Junius Oscar Turnage was born on May 20, 1894, in Nash County, North Carolina. Turnage was a livestock dealer in Zebulon, North Carolina, when he registered for the draft (World War I) in June 1917. He enlisted in the National Guard in June 1917 and served with Company A of the 105th Supply Train until his honorable discharge in April 1919. He was deployed overseas from June 1918 to April 1919. Turnage died in Nash County on August 17, 1939.