James A. Hollis, Jr.
Date of Birth: April 3, 1918
Place of Birth: Manhattan, Kansas
Father and Mother’s Names: James Arthur Hollis, Sr. and Helen (Reed) Hollis
Date Entered Service: 1941 - Trained at Camp Forsythe, Kansas.
Service Branch: Army
Rank: Private
Service ID: 37156530
Division/Company/Unit info: India Company, 22nd Infantry Division.
Riley Connection: James was born and raised in Manhattan, Kansas. His father started Hollis and Maddock Jewelers at 113 S. 4th St. and later the business moved to 427 Poyntz Ave. in Manhattan. The family lived at 1818 Humboldt St. in 1918, 1609 Poyntz Ave. in 1919 and moving to 530 Bluemont Ave. in 1920.
Date of Death (and Age): 1944 (age 26)
Place of Death: Killed in action in the Hurtgen Forest, Germany
Grave Location: Sunset Cemetery, Manhattan, Kansas.
Bio: James was raised in Manhattan, Kansas. His father was a Jeweler and Optometrist in McCracken, Kansas and moved to Manhattan where he first worked at Smith Jewelers in 1918 and later went into the jewelry/Optometry business with J. M. Maddock by 1920. In 1921, his father left that partnership and started his own shop, J. A. Optometrist at 4th and Houston Sts. He later moved to 427 Poyntz and started Hollis Jewelers. James's uncle, Theodore, joined the business with his father in the Fall of 1922. James spent most of his childhood living at 530 Bluemont in Manhattan. Helen, mother of James, lived to be 99. Helen's mother, grandmother of James, also was 99 at her death. Long life did not follow James. He was Killed in Action in 1944 at the young age of 26, serving and dying for his country.
