About the Event:

This is a first ever public living history and battle event honoring the service of Pvt. Wilburn K Ross and the thousands of other men and women who served in WWII. Pvt. Ross is a Medal of Honor recipient, whose selfless actions under fire near St. Jacques in France saved the remnants of his company and inspired his fellow comrades to fight on.

The Liberation of St Jacques will feature American and German companies involved in re-enactment exercises, battles, and interaction with those in attendance. 

Tentative Show Schedule(Saturday July 5, 2008):
Gate Admission- 12:00pm, 3:00pm, 6:00pm

Attendees will be able to view the battle re-enactment, attend demonstrations, view displays and visit with the members of the American and German companies...

Attention Re-enactors!!!

Plan on attending this event, and participating as a re-enactor? Please e-mail us with your name and contact information so that we may get an accurate count. Re-enactors can also e-mail for more information on the event. 

About Pvt. Wilburn K Ross:

Wilburn K Ross was born in Strunk, Kentucky, in McCreary County. He entered the service and, on 30 October 1944, after his company had lost 55 out of 88 men in an attack on an entrenched full strength German company of elite mountain troops, Ross placed his light machine gun 10 yards in advance of the foremost supporting rifleman in order to absorb the initial impact of an enemy counterattack. Despite the hail of automatic fire and the explosion of rifle grenades, he continued to man his machine gun alone, holding off six more German attacks. Pvt. Ross, after expending his last rounds, refused to retreat, instead awaiting the arrival of fresh ammunition supplies, which allowed him to fight off even more German attacks. Having killed or wounded at least 58 German soldiers in more than 5 hours of fighting, Ross saved the remnants of his company from destruction. His service and heroic stand earned Pvt. Wilburn K Ross the Medal of Honor. Currently, a stretch of KY Highway 92 in Stearns, KY is named for Ross(Wilburn K Ross Highway) and Ross is expected to be honored during the Liberation of St Jacques event at Barthell in July 2008.

Contact Information & Resources:

McCreary County Tourist Commission
1-888-284-3718 or 606-376-3008
www.kyvacations.com

Barthell Coal Mining Camp
1-888-550-5747 or 606-376-8749
www.barthellcoalcamp.com

NFA Address:
Barthell Coal Camp
552 Barthell Road
Strunk, KY 42649

Photos from other WWII re-enactments submitted by Dave Nutter.)