MSG (Ret.) James "Jim" Warren England February 26, 1950- January 25, 2014 Opelika, AL- James "Jim" Warren England MSG (ret) On the morning of January 25, 2014 succumbed to his last battle of the Vietnam War after a brief, 6 month fight against aggressive cancer, resulting from exposure to Agent Orange as a LRRP with K Co 75th Ranger Regiment 4th Infantry Division, Aug 1969-Dec 1970. Jim England was born February 26, 1950 in Kingfisher, Oklahoma. He was the fourth child and first son of Harold and Merilyn England. Jim grew up in Oklahoma and Texas, at the age of 17 he dropped out of high school and enlisted in the US Army on April 17, 1967 and earned his GED during his first year of service. Jim volunteered for Vietnam and entered country in June of 1969 where he volunteered for the Ranger Regiment and was team leader of R-28. During his time as team leader he was promoted to Staff Sergeant at the age of 19. In Vietnam Jim earned the Combat Infantryman's Badge, three Bronze Stars for Valor, a Bronze Star for Meritorious Service, a Purple Heart, two Air Medals and other awards and decorations. In addition to his service as an Infantryman and Ranger, he also served as an Army Recruiter, nuclear weapons security custodial agent, personnel sergeant, and administrative NCO on the Infantry Center general staff. Upon Retirement from the Army in 1985, Jim wrote a book published in 1986, "Long-Range Patrol Operations: Reconnaissance, Combat, and Special Operations." He then attended Columbus State University earning a B.S. in Secondary Education; history and social studies, graduating sum cum laude and earning various honors including the Faculty Cup. Jim taught for 16 years at Richards Middle School where he was selected as Teacher of the Year in 1998 and 2005. He also worked as a part time political science instructor at Columbus State University and spent the last 21 years as the director of the Columbus Area Model United Nations, assisting with the event for this school year from his hospital bed at Hamilton House while fighting his battle with cancer. Married for 43 years Jim met his wife Susan Spellings England on leave from Vietnam in June of 1970 and they were married in Honolulu Hawaii October 13 1970 during Rest and Relaxation leave from Vietnam. Together they raised their two sons James Warren England Jr and Charles Dean England. Jim was preceded in death by his father Harold and his sister Margaret. He is survived by his wife Susan, sons James and Charles, daughter-in-laws Tamra and Phoebe, grandchildren Vanessa, Courtney, Trevor and Brandon, Mother Merilyn, sisters Dorothy and Judy, and brother Gordon Memorial Service will be held Wednesday 1/29/14 at 6:00 PM at the Columbus Public Library Auditorium, 3000 Macon Rd, Columbus GA 31906. In lieu of flowers the family is requesting the donations be made in honor of Jim to the Wounded Warrior Project http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/

Published in the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer on January 28, 2014