Photos
I had come across a Suburban News article last year, commemorating James's retirement from the Military after 40 years of service. Today I am reading about his tragic death involving a Mercy Flight helicopter. I racked my brain all day today, thinking where do I remember James from? Then it hit me. I had come across his photo in my Basic Training yearbook. We had gone through Boot Camp together in 1987 at Fort Dix, New Jersey (C/3/26). Jim was the oldest of us all at Basic Training. I was a young 16 year old and Jim was in his 20's. Jim had a break in service and then re-entered the Army, having to endure boot camp once again. He was a PFC and and everyone in the platoon looked up to him, including the Drill Instructors! I retired from the NYARNG in 2010 and I am now realizing that we lived only a few short miles from each other. Rest easy my Friend, I will never forget the short time we spent together many moons ago...