James R. Vance, the son of Ella Belle and Andrew Vance, was born on June 7th, 1937, in Barlow, KY. He volunteered for the Marine Corps in May 1955 at the tender age of 16. He received basic training at MCRD Paris Island, SC.
After Paris Island, Jim joined the Infantry Training Regiment at Camp Lejeune, NC, where he received combat readiness training. Fron NC, he was ordered to Jacksonville, FL to attend Aircraft Mechanics Training. Then, it was on to MARTD at Memphis, TN, where Jim received Advanced Aircraft Training. This included metal, avionics, and electrical.
Upon finishing MARTD at Memphis, Jim joined a transport squadron in Cherry Point, NC. After about one year there, he was transferred to Iwakuni, Japan with another transport aircraft squadron. After 18 months in Japan, Jim was one of the first selected Marines to board the first helicopter ship in 1959, the USS Princeton in Long Beach, CA. This assignment took the men out to sea on helo training. There were many, many long days, as well as a trip to Japan which opened up an interesting opportunity. That was the assignment to pick up President Eisenhauer’s eight presidential helicopters, dropping off two in Japan, Okinawa, Subic Bay, and two on board the Princeton for the President. However, relations between Japan and the US deteriorated and the President’s trip to Tokyo was cancelled. Those are the breaks!
From Japan, Jim was transferred to New River, NC where he was assigned to a Mediterranean Cruise. After the Cruise, he went to Viet Nam for two tours (1965 to 1967, and 1969 to 1970). “Those were some tough times,” says Jim. “…and any Viet Nam vet will tell you, he’s not eager to talk about the atrocities of that war and waste of lives. The only thing I will say is the Good Lord was definitely watching over me, as I had several close calls.”
The it was on to M.C.A.S. L.T.A. in Santa Ana, CA where Jim worked with, and helped train, USMC Reserves, flying the CH-46 helicopters with the Fourth marine Air Wing.
Jim retired from the USMC after 20 years of service, receiving 28 air medals, Aerial Combat Wings, and several other medals, including four Navy accommodations medals with combat “V” and the Cross of Gallantry.