James E. Cruickshank was born December 5, 1921 in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania.
James attended Phoenixville High School. James was a member of the St. John’s Reformed Church. He was active in the Young Men’s Christian Endeavor both in his church, in which he served as president for one year, and in the North Branch of Chester County Society. He obtained employment with the Pennsylvania Railroad.
James enlisted in the Marine Corps on June 2, 1942. After basic training, he was assigned to the 3rd Marine Division.
The 3rd Division was activated in September, 1942 at Camp Elliot, San Diego, California. They were shipped to Auckland, New Zealand in January, 1943. James’s division was sent to Guadalcanal in June for additional training. In November, they landed on Bougainville Island and endured costly and intense jungle warfare for the rest of the year. Bougainville Island is in the Northern Solomon’s, and at the time was part of the Australian territory of New Guinea.