James's Life
Early Life
St. Paul's Roman Catholic Orphan Asylum, 1930
James M. Nolan was born in 1920. He grew up with his three older sisters, Anna, Mary, and Ruth at St. Paul's Roman Catholic Orphan Asylum in Pittsburgh. Probably due to having grown up at the orphanage, there are few records of his early life, and the exact date of his birth remains unknown. According to records from St Paul's in the 1930 census though, both of his parents had been from Pennsylvania. While at the orphanage, James only received a grammar school education. Eventually, he went to work as an elevator operator. On November 18th, 1942, James enlisted in the U.S. Army in Pittsburgh, PA.
In the Military
Upon his enlistment in the U.S. Army, James Nolan received the ranking of private, and was assigned to the 264th Infantry, 66th Division. Nicknamed "The Black Panthers," this division was activated in April of 1943. James and the rest of the division began their training in the same month in Camp Blanding, Florida. They finished their training in Camp Rucker, Alabama, and received orders to sail in October of 1944. The SS Leopoldville would transport the division to France, where they would be sent in as reinforcements.