Jim was born and raised in Hubbard, Ohio.  He entered the Army in 1967 and attended basic training at Fort Knox, Kentucky.  After completion, he continued his training in nuclear weapons maintenance at Sandia Base in New Mexico.  Jim was involved in the Korean conflict as part of the 833rd Ordinance Company from 1968-1969 at Camp Ames in Taejon, South Korea.  He returned stateside to the Navy base in Indian Head, Maryland in 1969.  There Jim was in charge of maintaining nuclear warhead trainers, inventory, and the storing of outdated warheads for the EOD school.  In January of 1970, he went to Mc Cully Barracks in Wackernheim, Germany for nine months before he was honorably discharged at the rank of Spec5 in October.