Class of: 1959
Brick: yes

Born in Alabama, I attended Stetson on a football scholarship and was a member of the ’55 and ’56 football team. I was a member of the Sigma Nu fraternity. I graduated in 1959 with a B.S. in Business Management. Upon graduation I was commissioned a Second Lieutenant of Infantry. After serving as a platoon leader and later as Battle Group Liaison Officer for the 1st Battle Group, 87th Infantry, I was assigned to Vietnam to serve as an intelligence officer and as an Infantry Battalion Advisor within the United States Military Assistance Command. Returning to the US, I served as Company Commander, Battalion S3, and Assistant Division G1, with the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. Sent to Germany, I served as the Adjutant for the 10th Special Forces Group, 1st Special Forces, in the Federal Republic of Germany. I was back in Vietnam from June 1967 until July 1968 as the Operations Officer and later as the Commander of the Fifth Mobile Strike Force (Mike Force), 1st Special Forces, Republic of Vietnam. Assignments back in the US included Officer-in-Charge of the Joint Service Participation in the 1973 Presidential Inauguration and Executive Officer for the 1st Battalion, 3rd Infantry, and Personnel Staff Officer in DC.

Reassigned to Fort Campbell, I commanded the 1st Battalion, 506th Infantry, and later served as a Special Assistant to the Chief of Staff, 101st Airborne Division. Earning an M.S. in Public Administration from Shippensburg State University, my military education includes several basic and advanced training courses and a time at the Army War College. My awards and decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal and the Bronze Star Medal (with one Oak Leaf Cluster) among many others. I retired from the Army in October of 1992 as a Lieutenant General. I am married to the former Trudy R. Eldridge and we have two children, a daughter (Kirsten) who lives in Dallas and a son (James Jr.) who is serving in the US Army.