James E. Stewart was born in Hazlehurst, Georgia. A pitcher, he was signed by the Atlanta Crackers along with Troy Furr (who was killed in action in France in January 1945) during the winter of 1943. Sadly, he never got to play a game in a Crackers uniform as he entered military service with the Marine Corps.

Twenty year old Private Stewart was in the Pacific with 7th Platoon, Company C, 34th Replacement Draft, 3rd Marine Division at Iwo Jima in March 1945. He was killed in action on March 22 - one of 4,500 Marines who lost their lives on the tiny volcanic island. Major leaguers Harry O'Neill and minor leaguers Jim Trimble, Frank Ciaffone, Bob Holmes, Jack Lummus and Jack Nealy also lost their lives on Iwo Jima.

James Stewart is buried at Hazelhurst City Cemetery.

Thanks to Ray Nemec and Mark Aubrey for help with this biography.

Added February 12, 2011