James Geiger - 1st Lieutenant

Biography

Year at ISU: 1941

First Lieutenant James Philip Geiger was known as "Phil" to his friends and family. He was born to Ralph S. Geiger and Marie A. O'Neill on April 12, 1920, and grew up in Fort Dodge. Iowa.

James joined the Illinois National Guard on September 26, 1940. He entered active service on March 5, 1941 at Chicago, Illinois.

He made corporal on May 21, 1941, and sergeant on November 20, 1941. When he graduated from Infantry School, the Army commissioned him second lieutenant on May 12, 1942.

James was promoted to First Lieutenant on November 12, 1942. Sometime later he was sent to the Mediterranean Theatre.

In early 1944, he declined becoming a captain of rear-guard security forces. He wanted to serve in combat. He served with Command Combat "B" of the 1st Armored Division in Italy.

He was killed in action near the Gothic Line in Northern Italy on January 16, 1945.