Previously Held MOS 72B20-Communications Center Specialist
72E10-Tactical Telecommunications Center Operator
71L10-Administrative Specialist
11B30-Infantryman
1970-1977 with 7.6 years Active USA, 1985 to 2009 USAFR.
James Elmo Reece III, beloved husband and devoted father, is the son of James Elmo Reece Jr, Grandson to James Elmo Reece Sr, Great Grandson to William Ervin Reece, all of Wilmngton, NC.
He is the brother of Diane Marie Reece Boyd Wilmington, NC.
Married Elanne Joy Bender of Soap Lake, Washington on 24 Oct 1987, He has one daughter, the late Chelsie Iris Reece of Lakewood, WA.
Born in Glendale, CA, left at the age of 1, and lived the next twenty years in Wilmington, NC. Atternded St Mary's School 1954 to 1963. Graduated from NHHS in 1969 and promptly joined the Army. I got tired of walking, left the Army and joined the US Air Force, and retired as a First Sergeant in 2009. Lifetime member of the VFW and the USAF Sergeants Association. I followed in the footsteps of my Father and Grandfather by working as a Firefighter and Civil Servant until my retirement in 2004. After retirement in 2004, I moved to Maui. I left Maui in June 2011 and settled in my hometown of Wilmington, North Carolina, close to my only sister. Playing more golf and not getting any better except now I play on the Senior Tees. I got sick from Pulmonary Emboli in 2014 and left Wilmington to be close to my other family. Living in East Wenatchee, WA now. You really "can't" go home.
PLEASE DESCRIBE WHO OR WHAT INFLUENCED YOUR DECISION TO JOIN THE ARMY.
One night I was in jail, the next night I was on the way to Raleigh NC, to join the Army. I had gotten drunk at a bowling alley and got in trouble with the owner. I was young and dumb with no college on the horizon, no job prospects,
Basic, Ft Bragg Feb 1970
living in a small town with a small town mentality. It was the smartest spur-of-the-moment thing I ever did as I spent 40 years in the Military, active and reserves.
I should have grown up quickly, but I didn't as it was a long process. I didn't have a clue what to expect, I just knew it was going to be a change and I needed one quickly. The Navy Recruiter was out to lunch and the Army Recruiter was brown-bagging his lunch. I took an eye test and signed up for a three-year stint to become a Telecommunications Specialist.
As it turned out, that was just one of my many jobs in the Army, under the unofficial "Hey You" program. It was more than I thought it could be as I found out that the Army gives you everything you need to be successful. You just have to apply yourself every day.
I left town and didn't go back home for 34 years. I had grown up and out and didn't know anyone else but family. On the other hand, nobody knew me either.
My Military time was all good and I would do it again, hopefully, smarter.
WHETHER YOU WERE IN THE SERVICE FOR SEVERAL YEARS OR AS A CAREER, PLEASE DESCRIBE THE DIRECTION OR PATH YOU TOOK. WHERE DID YOU GO TO BASIC TRAINING AND WHAT UNITS, BASES OR SQUADRONS WERE YOU ASSIGNED TO? WHAT WAS YOUR REASON FOR LEAVING?
I enlisted as a Communications Center Specialist. I worked that job for about half my career and the other half where ever they needed me. I was promoted to E-4 in ten months, E-5 in less than three years. I took Basic Training at Ft Bragg in Feb 1970, then
Marching in Basic Training, 1970. I'm up front.
AIT at Ft Gordon, GA.
My first long tour was Hawaii for three years 1970-1973.
I left Hawaii in July 1973 and was stuck at Ft Story, Virginia of all places. They had a Communications Center there but I couldn't get a job with them as they were all civilians. I worked at the recruiter station than at the Orderly room.
Then I was sent to Korea for 13 long months in the middle of nowhere. I was on the E-6 list for two years and couldn't get promoted as the cut off was 950 or so.
Then I was re-assigned to Ft Lewis, Washington with the 9th Infantry Division. I didn't like the Infantry and ETS'd in July 1977.
I stayed out of the military for 8 years and then went into the Air Force Reserves. It was the second smartest thing I ever did. I stayed in till 2009 where I retired as a First Sergeant with over 26 for pay, 40 for years for time in service.
IF YOU PARTICIPATED IN ANY MILITARY OPERATIONS, INCLUDING COMBAT, HUMANITARIAN AND PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS, PLEASE DESCRIBE THOSE WHICH MADE A LASTING IMPACT ON YOU AND, IF LIFE-CHANGING, IN WHAT WAY?
There was no combat for this Soldier. I was in a so-called Combat Zone for 13 long months in Korea. What a cold place for a such a short winter. I couldn't wait to get out of that country. We were stuck on a rock called K-6 which was on
No combat, but a lot of Marching. I'm Up front again.
top of a rock that was 30 stories tall at least. Windy and Cold or Windy and Hot.
Humanitarian Operations? We used to go to 'Old Folks' homes and entertain the residents and cook them a hot meal twice a year. The Old Veterans would sit around and tell War stories. They described WWII as the one against the Japanese. We also collected old clothing to send to Pakistan back in the late 80's and look where that got us.
I was an average G.I. Joe looking for a change and I got it. I saw other countries and how they lived. I grew to appreciate American more and more and understood that is where I wanted to be. I'd lived in the country before, but this was way-out-there country.
OF ALL YOUR DUTY STATIONS OR ASSIGNMENTS, WHICH ONE DO YOU HAVE FONDEST MEMORIES OF AND WHY? WHICH WAS YOUR LEAST FAVORITE?
Waikiki Skyline at dusk
My fondest memory was Hawaii of course. Hung out with the locals and surfed Waimea Bay and dove off the big rocks. I had a good time. I screwed up and got married to a gal from Indiana. I found out right away that we were too young. What a way to screw up a perfectly good assignment. That marriage lasted 5 years.
My least favorite assignment? Ft Story, Virginia where I didn't have a job, or Ft Bragg Infantry Basic Training where it was the first introduction to the Military. Surprise Surprise.
FROM YOUR ENTIRE MILITARY SERVICE, DESCRIBE ANY MEMORIES YOU STILL REFLECT BACK ON TO THIS DAY.
E-3 Signal Corps trainee
I could have done a lot better in the Military. I didn't apply myself fully. Too young and immature. I was very grateful for the chance and slowly I turned myself around on my own time as it wouldn't have worked any other way.
Later in my career, I accepted a position of high visibility and high responsibility as a First Sergeant and it turned me around. I never thought I would be standing behind the 1st Sergeants desk, but always in front of it.
WHAT PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF FROM YOUR MILITARY CAREER?
Schofield Barracks 1970.
Army Commendation Medal at Ft Story for working at the Army Community Services Office. DA Certificate of Achievement for Army Emergency Relief. Commander's letter while working at Fort Lewis. Sometimes hard work pays off when you get a small pat on the back in writing.
Being selected as a First Sergeant in my USAFR Position from 1997 to 2004 was the most fulfilling and it brings back a feeling of pride in my Unit and those that served with me.
Those were the good times, what a way to top off a career.
OF ALL THE MEDALS, AWARDS, FORMAL PRESENTATIONS AND QUALIFICATION BADGES YOU RECEIVED, OR OTHER MEMORABILIA, WHICH ONE IS THE MOST MEANINGFUL TO YOU AND WHY?
Young E-5 in less than three years.
The Army Commendation Medal. It meant a lot of work on my own without direction. I turned an empty building into an Army Community Services Office.
In 1972 I scored the highest on the E-5 Board at the 25th Division with a 247.7. During the board, I was brutally honest about smoking pot and told them I didn't want my career to go up in smoke. They weren't ready for that quip. They busted a gut.
Sometimes it pays to be up-front and honest.
WHICH INDIVIDUAL(S) FROM YOUR TIME IN THE MILITARY STAND OUT AS HAVING THE MOST POSITIVE IMPACT ON YOU AND WHY?
1976, fresh from 13 months in Korea.
SFC Lawrence O'Keefe at 125th Signal Battalion in Hawaii. He would talk with you and not scream at you. There were several others, but I don't remember the names though. Back in those days, there were many LIFERS. I didn't understand that attitude. Hated that attitude. O'Keefe was a professional. Slowly but surely the lifers and their attitudes left. The Army was getting better.
Drill Sergeant William Sisk. He was a likable guy and retired from the Army and worked with the NC State Highway Patrol for more than 20 years. I learned recently that he passed away. He was a decent guy.
CAN YOU RECOUNT A PARTICULAR INCIDENT FROM YOUR SERVICE, WHICH MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE BEEN FUNNY AT THE TIME, BUT STILL MAKES YOU LAUGH?
1985, good people in the USAFR
The night a wet mattress blew off of the roof of Quad K at Schofield Barracks and hit someone's VW Van in the parking lot during a really windy night. There was lots of damage to the car. This person was sunning himself on a mattress someone had disposed of. He took it up on the roof three stories up, then it got damp and windy and the mattress became a missile.
WHAT PROFESSION DID YOU FOLLOW AFTER YOUR MILITARY SERVICE AND WHAT ARE YOU DOING NOW? IF YOU ARE CURRENTLY SERVING, WHAT IS YOUR PRESENT OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY?
Waiting on an Airplane to ship us out.
I took whatever job I could get. I finally landed a job in Keypunch on Ft Lewis. I then progressed up the ranks of Systems and Programming. I have retired a few times but like puttering around. I used the Active Time to help in my Reserve time. That little paycheck and all the active time(7 1/2 years), made my Reserve time worth it. I managed to dodge any conflicts without lifting a finger too. I guess I was just dumb-lucky.
I am currently and finally retired working for my wife doing honey-doos. I am working as a Volunteer for TogetherWeServed working on the Vietnam ERA profiles. It takes up all my downtime.
WHAT MILITARY ASSOCIATIONS ARE YOU A MEMBER OF, IF ANY? WHAT SPECIFIC BENEFITS DO YOU DERIVE FROM YOUR MEMBERSHIPS?
Military Associations I enjoy.
I am a member of the Army and Air Force Together We Served. Also members of the VFW with a Life Membership and the Air Force Sergeants Association. The mailings that I received from those last two keep me up on current Military events.
With TWS, I can reconnect with those that I served with many years ago.
IN WHAT WAYS HAS SERVING IN THE MILITARY INFLUENCED THE WAY YOU HAVE APPROACHED YOUR LIFE AND YOUR CAREER? WHAT DO YOU MISS MOST ABOUT YOUR TIME IN THE SERVICE?
More good people I worked with.
I wish I could do it over again with the opportunities that are there now. I used the VA and went to school for 6 years until they kicked me out. I had received 5 Associate Degrees using the VA Benefits. The Diplomas also helped in my Air Force Career.
BASED ON YOUR OWN EXPERIENCES, WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO THOSE WHO HAVE RECENTLY JOINED THE ARMY?
Working on the Wall of Faces project with my brother Tom/.
Work hard now and use the benefits that are available. Pick your Career carefully. You need plenty of off-duty time to go to the education center. If you don't know what you want to do now, join the Military. There will always be someone there that will help you with guidance.
IN WHAT WAYS HAS TOGETHERWESERVED.COM HELPED YOU REMEMBER YOUR MILITARY SERVICE AND THE FRIENDS YOU SERVED WITH.
USA Together We Served
It took me back to where I had to remember people places and things. Made me feel those feeling I felt back in my younger days. Made me want to do it all over again but better. TWS has helped me reach out to others to help them reconnect. Takes me back to those good old younger days. I have managed to reconnect with some old Telecommunication/Crypto guys.
