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MEMORIAL ARTICLE
Published Assembly Jan '51
James Patrick Hurley NO. 15729
Class of 1946 Killed June 13, 1949, Near Misawa Air
Base, Honshu, Japan, in an aircraft accident, aged 24 years. |
Jim HURLEY was leading his squadron in a practice raid
on Misawa Air Base when one of the Misawa alert pilots, who was
intercepting the raiders, lost control of his aircraft and crashed
into Jim. He tried to save his F-51, but it was too badly damaged.
Jim went in with it.
James Patrick Hurley was born on January 18th, 1925,
at Arlington, Mass., the son of Col. and Mrs. Patrick J. Hurley.
Like many Army Brats he spent his childhood with his family at
several Army Posts. During the time he was in elementary school
his father was stationed in Hawaii, and so Jim received most
of his elementary schooling there. Hawaii made a lasting impression
oil young Jim, and while he was there he learned a number of
Hawaiian songs, which in later years he used to entertain his
friends.
The next change of station brought the Hurleys to Fort
Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas. There Jim attended and graduated
from Catholic Central High School. There, also, his inherent
ability in military leadership was first brought to light. At
graduation he was named the outstanding Cadet Captain in the
school's R.O.T.C.
Early in his life Jim had set his sights on the Academy
as a goal. During his high school days his ambition to attend
the Academy was increased a hundredfold by his older brother
Paul. Paul was at West Point then, taking flight training with
his classmates. So Jim's ambition became twofold, to graduate
from West Point, and to wear Silver Wings.
In 1943 Jim made two trips up the Hudson River, one
in June to see Paul graduate, and the other in July. The second
trip was a little more involved than the first, but the result
was the same for the Hurley family, because three years later
Jim graduated with his wings.
The first time I met Jim we didn't have much chance
to get acquainted, for we were standing in a rigid brace, as
is the custom for New Cadets, under a broiling July sun, in the
middle of Central Area. That was my introduction to one of the
finest men I have ever known.
From the very first day of Beast Barracks Jim became
an integral part of his Company. He spent a good part of his
time helping some of us make the difficult transition from College
Joe to West Point Plebe. Paul had briefed him pretty thoroughly
on Plebe life, and if it is possible for any phase of Beast Barracks
to be made pleasant, Jim did that for his classmates. Throughout
the three years at the Academy his room was the gathering Place
for a song-fest, or a discussion on almost anything--poetry,
flying, football, philosophy, and a thousand other subjects,
or an after taps boodle fight. He was never without his guitar,
and he could sing for hours without repeating a single song.
Jim loved sports, too, and he was a good athlete. His
interest ranged from football to skiing, but I think his favorites
were water sports--swimming, water polo, diving and surf planing.
He had the kind of courage that scoffs at personal safety, not
only in sports, but later on in his flying. No sport was too
rough for him to try, nor any situation he encountered while
flying, whether It be a gunnery mission or a zero-zero field
condition.
Jim was overjoyed at the opportunity to take flight
training while still at the Academy. Primary, Basic, and
Advanced Train-ing were new and exciting experiences to Jim.
Before long that part of flying which defies description, but
which holds men to the sky, became Jim's driving force. Only
those who have rolled a fighter on the deck, or who have flown
through the empty sanctity of the sky, can know what this force
is. Jim was one of those few privileged men.
Before long the hectic days at the Academy drifted into
the past, and one day Jim walked up onto a platform, saluted,
shook hands with General Spaatz, and walked away proudly with
his own wings. At last he was a full-fledged pilot, and he had
been accepted for training at Single Engine Fighter School. So
Williams Field, Arizona, was his first station, and the slim,
graceful F-51 his first, and later his last, fighter. Jim fell
in love with the 51 even before his first flight. Why he was
taken from this life is beyond the understanding of man, but
since he was taken away, somehow it seems fitting that he went
in a 51.
When we finished Fighter School we drew lots for assignments.
Jim drew the 62nd Troop Carrier Group at Bergstrom Field, Austin,
Texas. Though his heart was with fighters he contented himself
with flying C-82's until he was sent overseas. Jim stayed at
Bergstrom Field until June 1947. At that time the 62nd
was transferred to McChord Field, Tacoma, Washington. He went
with his group to Washington and remained there until he received
his overseas orders.
While Jim was stationed at McChord Field he was introduced
to Jeanne Paulson of Tacoma. In the months that followed he began
to realize that this quiet, beautiful girl was the One and Only.
So he gave her a miniature, and they were married in the spring
of 1948 at the McChord Field Chapel. Shortly after they returned
from their honeymoon Jim was sent overseas to Japan.
When he arrived in Japan his dream of flying with a
fighter group was at last realized, for he was assigned to the
40th Fighter Squadron of the 35th Fighter-Interceptor Group at
Johnson Air Base, about 30 miles northwest of Tokyo. After the
usual months of waiting, Jeanne finally joined him in Japan,
and they soon had quarters at Johnson Air Base. Saturday night
get -togethers at the Hurleys got to be almost a weekly event
after that.
His time was filled with flying gunnery, rocket and
dive bombing missions, and flying airborne alert with his squadron.
But it was the kind of flying he loved, and with Jeanne overseas
he was extremely happy.
Jim was engineering officer of his squadron, in addition
to his flying duties. He was one of the best liked officers in
the squadron, not only by his fellow officers but by his airmen
as well. He spent countless hours with his men, working to keep
the aircraft in commission.
One day he was chosen to lead his squadron in a practice
raid on Misawa Air Base at the northern tip of Honshu. After
the raid he led the squadron across Misawa in show formation.
It was then that the Misawa pilot lost control of his aircraft
and crashed into Jim.
The news of Jim's death came as a terrible shock to
his wife, his parents, and his friends. It is hard to understand
why he was taken from us while he was still so young, and had
such a promising life before him. In an effort to help understand
let me quote a part of "Pilot Bails Out", by Don Blanding,
which was Jim's favorite:
"Four things that make the perfect whole
Plane, hand and brain---and Pilot-Soul.
The hand is flesh-and flesh is frail;
The throbbing motored heart might fail;
The plane might falter down the sky
The anguished human brain might die;
But this we know-we dare not doubt,
With one triumphant deathless shout,
The valiant Pilot-Soul bails out."
Jim is survived by his wife, Jeanne, his posthumous
son, James, Jr., his parents, and his brother. He was laid to
rest in Arlington National Cemetery.
-H. B. S. Jr.
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