Private Porter F. Fuqua, attached to the 9th Infantry Division, "the Old Reliables" 39th Infantry Battalion, was Killed In Action somewhere in the vicinity of Geich, Germany on 11 December 1944 as the division was holding defensive positions. He was erroneously listed as a Matagorda County casualty by the War Department.  He should have been listed as a Potter County casualty. He was born in Amarillo, Potter County, Texas on September 3, 1920. His father was Fred Wilson Fuqua [April 14, 1898 - November 30, 1962- and his mother was Johnnie Mae (Bourn) Fuqua [October 25, 1897 - August 11, 1989]/ His family lived, died and was buried in Potter County.  The Amarillo Globe in its December 28, 1944 issue printed an article concerning Porter's death, and in that article stated he was married to Helen Bayne of Baytown.  Most likely Helen was staying with her parents and the War Department confused Baytown with Bay City, thus creating the error. There is a remote possibility the Amarillo Globe erred in saying Baytown, when in actuality she would have been from Bay City. In this scenario the War Department would still be in error because Matagorda County was not his home of record but simply where she was staying. Porter served with the 39th Infantry Regiment, 9th Infantry Division and is buried at Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery, Henri-Chapelle, Belgium, Plot H; Row 14; Grave 71. 
 

PORTER FUQUA DIES IN ACTION

Porter Fuqua, 24 years old, son of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Fuqua of Amarillo and Tascosa, was killed in action, Dec. 11, his parents have been notified by the War Department.

A private, Porter Fuqua had served overseas since June of 1943. He was in the African, Sicilian and Italian campaigns and was in France soon after D-Day. He was awarded the Purple Heart last August.

The soldier was graduated from Amarillo High School in 1938 and from Texas A. & M. in 1941. In December of 1942 he was married to Helen Bayne of Baytown.

Besides his parents and the widow, a brother, Emmett Fuqua, who is serving in the Pacific is among the surviving relatives.

Obituary courtesy of Amarillo Public Library, Amarillo, Texas

The Amarillo Globe, December 28, 1944
 

Johnnie May Fuqua

Johnnie May Fuqua, 91, of Amarillo, died Friday, Aug. 11, 1989.

Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. today in Llano Cemetery with Dr. Walter Clyde, theologian in residence at First Presbyterian Church, officiating. Arrangements are by Schooler-Gordon Colonial Chapel.

Mrs. Fuqua, born in Sanger, had lived in Amarillo about 70 years. She was a homemaker and a member of First Presbyterian Church. She married Fred Wilson Fuqua in 1919. He died in 1962. They were a pioneer ranching family. She was also preceded in death by two sons, Porter Fuqua, who died in Belgium during World War II and Emmett Fuqua, died in 1982.

Survivors include two grandsons, F. Rutson Fuqua of Amarillo and J. Wilson Fuqua of Dallas; and a granddaughter, Kalee Fuqua of Amarillo.

The family requests memorials be to First Presbyterian Church.

Amarillo Daily News, August 12, 1989, p 3 C

Obituary courtesy of Amarillo Public Library, Amarillo, Texas                        Marker photo courtesy of Find A Grave volunteer Walter Dunn #46835578
 

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