James R. Nilo was born in Oneonta, New York on February 3, 1925. His father was Michael Nilo (1883-1963) who was born in Amalti, Italy, and his mother was Sarah “Sadie” Annis (1893-1928) who was born in Nova Scotia, Canada. James had two full siblings, Elizabeth and John. He also had nine half siblings. Both of his parents were married previously. Michael had four children by his first wife and Sadie had five by her first husband. With twelve children through three different marriages, James’ family structure was complex. James’ mother, Sadie, died in 1928 at the age of 34. Shortly after her death, James’ sister Elizabeth, at the age of 7, went to Franklin, Massachusetts to live with her aunt, Helena Gove and her family. At the age of 1, John, James’ brother, was adopted by the Silliman family in Oneonta and he took the Silliman name. James, at the age of 3, went to Liverpool, Nova Scotia to live with his uncle, Lawrence Annis. He graduated from high school in Liverpool, Nova Scotia. Thus, the three siblings did not grow up together or with their father, Michael. Michael worked for the Boston and Maine Railroad until his retirement in 1947. He lived in Oneonta for 30 years (1924 to 1954). Then, he moved to Bridgeport, Connecticut and resided there for nine years before his death.

Being in Nova Scotia, James joined the Canadian Army before the outbreak of World War II. He was only 16 years old. He served at Fort Hamilton, Ontario until 1942. He then entered the U.S. Army and volunteered to be a paratrooper. He received his training at Fort Bragg, North Carolina and later became a member of the 502nd Parachute Infantry, 101st Airborne Division. The 502nd Parachute Infantry Battalion was established at Fort Benning Georgia on July 1, 1941, five months before Japan attacked Pearl Harbor. Initially the 502nd was understrengthed until additional troops came from Fort Jackson, South Carolina and Fort Bragg, North Carolina. James was one of the troopers transferred to the 502nd.

The first Allied forces to land at Normandy, France were the paratroopers from the 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions. More than 13,000 American paratroopers landed in the area behind the Normandy beaches during the predawn hours of June 6th, before the actual the sea invasion occurred. This airborne invasion was led by the 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment, James’s regiment. One of the classic pre-invasion photographs of World War II shows General Eisenhower talking to men of the 502nd Regiment on the evening of June 5th. The 502nd started the invasion the next day.

Flying out of the Royal Airforce Bases at Membury and Greenham Common, England in the first wave to depart, the 502nd headed for Drop Zone A, which was located behind Utah Beach, trapping the Germans between the two invasion forces. See accompanying map. Due to navigation errors and other complications the 502nd drops were scattered across the countryside and not in Zone A. Each blue dot on the map represents the drop area for one plane load of paratroopers. The 501st and 506th followed with respect to Drop Zone C and Drop Zone D, respectively. These drops are shown by the orange and green dots and were relatively more successful. The zone between the airborne and seaborne invasions was low-lying wetlands that the Germans could control by flooding the area. Four causeways cut through these wetlands and severely restricted movement inland from the beach. The 502nd was to capture the northern two causeways, which it did even though many of its men were located some distance from Drop A.

The 101st airborne suffered many casualties from drowning and enemy fire. The 101st had about 8,400 men, half the size of a regular infantry division. At Normandy, the division experienced 665 men missing/captured in action, 2303 wounded/injured in action, and 868 killed in action. Collectively these numbers represent a sizable portion of the division’s total size. James was one of the paratroopers killed. He died on June 11, 1944. He was only 19 years old. He is buried at the American Cemetery and Memorial in Colleville-sur-Mer, Normandy, France.  Of  the 20,000 American fatalities during D-Day, 9,385 would eventually lie in just one graveyard, near the village of Collevill-sur-Mer, overlooking Omaha Beach.  In a chapel at the center of the cemetery, the foll9owing words would be enscribed: "Think not only upon their passing.  Remember the glory of their spirit." 

If you notice anything erroneous in this profile or have additional information to contribute to it, please contact Jim Greenberg at nez13820@gmail.com. 

Sources:

National Archives at College Park; College Park, Maryland, USA; Electronic Army Serial Number Merged File, 1938-1946; NAID: 1263923; Record Group Title: Records of the National Archives and Records Administration, 1789-ca. 2007; Record Group: 64; Box Number: 00751; Reel: 68 https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/8052661:8939?tid=&pid=&queryId=2a9318ee7a3981d1e2d2d52b032b6a46&_phsrc=NtK17752&_phstart=successSource (accessed January 19, 2023)

New York State Archives; Albany, New York; State Population Census Schedules, 1925; Election District: 06; Assembly District: 01; City: Oneonta Ward 06; County: Otsego; Page: 45

https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/20337047:2704?tid=&pid=&queryId=9eaa9e715339b233d243a495b3d4d5c5&_phsrc=NtK17932&_phstart=successSource (accessed January 19, 2023)

Ancestry.com. Global, Find a Grave™ Index for Burials at Sea and other Select Burial Locations, 1300s-Current [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012. https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/4171097:60541 (accessed January 20, 2023)

Headstone Inscription and Interment Records for U.S. Military Cemeteries on Foreign Soil, 1942–1949. Microfilm Series A1 43, NAID: 7408555. Records of the American Battle Monuments Commission, 1918–ca. 1995. Record Group 117. The National Archives in Washington, D.C.

National Archives and Records Administration. U.S., World War II and Korean Conflict Veterans Interred Overseas [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2000. https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/106081:4283 (accessed January 20, 2023)

National Archives and Records Administration; Hospital Admission Card Files, ca. 1970 - ca. 1970; NAI: 570973; Record Group Number: Records of the Office of the Surgeon General (Army), 1775-1994; Record Group Title: 112 https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/14969648:61817 (accessed January 20, 2023)

Pvt. James Nilo Killed in Action. Oneonta Herald June 11, 1944.

Supporting Files