James Patrick Sutton (October 31, 1915 – February 3, 2005) was an American politician and a member of the United States Congress from Tennessee.

Biography

Sutton was born on October 31, 1915, near Wartrace, Bedford County, Tennessee. He attended the public schools of Wartrace, Tennessee, and Cumberland University in

Lebanon, Tennessee Lebanon is the county seat of Wilson County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 38,431 at the 2020 census. Lebanon is located in Middle Tennessee, approximately east of downtown Nashville. Lebanon is part of the Nashville Metropolit ...

. He graduated from

Middle Tennessee State College Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU or MT) is a public university in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Founded in 1911 as a normal school, the university consists of eight undergraduate colleges as well as a college of graduate studies, together ...

Murfreesboro, Tennessee Murfreesboro is a city in and county seat of Rutherford County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 152,769 according to the 2020 census, up from 108,755 residents certified in 2010. Murfreesboro is located in the Nashville metropol ...

in 1939.

Career

During World War II, Sutton served in the United States Navy from 1942 to 1946. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, the

Silver Star The Silver Star Medal (SSM) is the United States Armed Forces' third-highest military decoration for valor in combat. The Silver Star Medal is awarded primarily to members of the United States Armed Forces for gallantry in action against an e ...

with oak leaf cluster, and the Purple Heart with two oak leaf clusters. On 3 February 1945, during a World War II battle to re-take the Philippines from the Japanese, elements of the U.S. Army's 1st Cavalry Division pushed into the northern outskirts of Manila, with only the steep-sided Tuliahan River separating them from the city proper. A squadron of the 8th Cavalry Regiment reached the bridge just moments after Japanese soldiers had finished preparing it for demolition. As the two sides opened fire on one another, the Japanese lit the fuse leading to the carefully placed explosives. Without hesitation, Lt. Sutton, a Navy demolitions expert attached to the division, dashed through the enemy fire and cut the burning fuse. This heroic act allowed the soldiers of the 1st Cavalry Division to cross the bridge and seize Manila. Sutton was elected as a Democrat to the Eighty-first and to the two succeeding Congresses. He served from January 3, 1949 until January 3, 1955. In 1954, he was an unsuccessful candidate for United States Senator. Subsequently, Sutton served as the county sheriff for Lawrence County, Tennessee. In 1963, he and his brother were indicted by a federal grand jury for

counterfeiting To counterfeit means to imitate something authentic, with the intent to steal, destroy, or replace the original, for use in illegal transactions, or otherwise to deceive individuals into believing that the fake is of equal or greater value tha ...

. He pleaded guilty in 1964 and was sentenced to one year in prison, and two years probation. He served an additional 10 months in federal prison in 1965 after violating his probation. He later worked as an investment broker, and spent time restoring antiques.

Death

Sutton died in the Lakeland Specialty Hospital, Berrien Center, Berrien County, Michigan, on February 3, 2005 (age 89 years, 95 days). He was cremated, and his ashes are interred at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia.

References

External links

Retrieved on 2008-02-18 *
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sutton, James Patrick 1915 births 2005 deaths American counterfeiters United States Navy personnel of World War II Burials at Arlington National Cemetery Tennessee sheriffs Recipients of the Silver Star Recipients of the Distinguished Service Cross (United States) Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Tennessee 20th-century American politicians People from Bedford County, Tennessee