Staff Sergeant Jake Junior Fields
U. S. Army
Ser # 38032907

January 27, 1919 - October 25, 1944
Palacios Cemetery
Palacios, Matagorda County, Texas


Gold Star Mother
Alice Lena Wilkerson Fields
 

Staff Sergeant Jake Junior Fields, U.S. Army [January 27, 1919 - October 25, 1944] was born to George DeWitt "Tod" Fields [April 7, 1895 - April 17, 1963] and Alice Lena (Wilkerson) Fields [January 29, 1892 - January 12, 1973] at Palacios, Matagorda County, Texas.  He attended Palacios schools and in 1940 he married Miss Ella Guyer. On June 18, 1941 he joined the U.S. Army at Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio, Texas.  At the time of his death he was attached to the 722^nd Engineer Depot Company, 6^th Army*,U.S. Army at Leyte, Philippine Islands.  Elements of the 6^th Army participated in the Battle of Leyte (October 17, 1944 - July 1, 1945), which was the first engagement of the Philippine Islands Campaign. He was first reported as Missing in Action, then changed to Killed in Action. Jake had only been in the Philippines for five days when he was killed.  Prior to arriving in the Philippines Jake served in the United States and Hawaii as an instructor. He was first interred at the United States Armed Forces Cemetery Leyte #1, Philippine Islands.  When the US government began repatriating remains to the United States Jake was returned home on April 21, 1949, and following services at the Palacios First Presbyterian Church, he was interred at the Palacios Cemetery.  At the time of his death he was survived by his wife (remarried) Mrs. Ella Frnka of El Campo, Texas; his son Charles Henry and his Mother Mrs. Alice Fields of Palacios, Texas.

*Elements of the 6^th Army included: 1^st Cavalry Division; 24^th Infantry Division; 7^th Infantry Division; 96^th Infantry Division and Service Command (ASCOM) to which the 722 Engineers were attached.

High school annual picture courtesy of Matagorda County Museum
 

Ella Catherine Guyer Fields, Jake Junior Fields and son, Charles Henry Fields

 

Fields - Guyer

Announcement is made of the marriage of Miss Ella Guyer, of Collegeport to Mr. Jake Fields, son of Mrs. Alice Fields, of this city, which took place Wednesday, March 12, with Rev. G. F. Gillespie performing the ceremony

The newlyweds left immediately for a honeymoon trip to San Antonio, after which they returned to Palacios, where they have a host of friends who extend them hearty congratulations.

Palacios Beacon, March 27, 1941
 

Reburial Services Scheduled Today For Jake J. Fields

Reburial services for Staff Sergeant Jake J. Fields will be held Thursday, April 21, 1949 at 3:30 p. m. in the First Presbyterian Church with Rev. Rayford B. Harris officiating.

Lt. Wm. Lloyd Queen Post, Veterans of Foreign Wars will conduct services at the grave in the Palacios cemetery. Palacios Funeral Home will have charge of arrangements and business houses are to be closed from 3 o'clock until after the services.

Staff Sergeant Fields was born in Palacios January 27, 1919 and spent most of his life here. He attended the local schools but graduated from the Blessing High School with the class of 1939. He answered the call of his country in World War II on June 16, 1941, and went with the Army, leaving in a few months for overseas duty. After serving one year there he was returned to the United States where he spent 18 months and again was sent overseas. He was on duty in the South Pacific and five days after landing on the island of Leyte, he was killed in action on October 25, 1944.

Survivors include his mother, Mrs. Alice Fields, son Charles Henry Fields, grandmother, Mrs. Lena Wilkerson, besides aunts and uncles and other relatives.

Palacios Beacon, April 21, 1949
 

Family photos and documents courtesy of Charles Henry Fields, son of SSgt Fields and Martha Pierce.

Copyright 2006 - Present by the Fields Family
All rights reserved

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