Lt. Col. Terry C. James Obituary (1960 - 2014)

Lt. Col. Terry C. James, 54, of Broken Bow, OK passed away June 23, 2014 at his home in Broken Bow, OK. He was born April 4, 1960 in Coleman, Texas the son of Weldon and Virginia James. Terry attended Centennial Elementary School in Coleman County. He completed his high school after the family relocated to Houston. He extended his education at the University of Texas. Terry obtained his private pilot?s license before joining the US Air Force. At Scott AFB, Lt. Colonel James was in a selectively manned position. He led eleven senior fight examiners who devised lead command policy/standards for 784 active duty. Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve aircrews that operated 545 KC-135 and 54 KC-10 aircraft. His branch developed criteria for AMC, USAFE, PACAF, AETC, AFRC, and ANG Standardization and Evaluation programs. Lt. Colonel James provided AMC general officers technical advice on peacetime, combat, combat support, and special operations missions. He was the principal advisor for tankers? AMC ?sponsored Aircrew Stan/Eval Visits and represented AMC Director of Operations as on-call waiver authority for 14,073 aviators that operated 1,493 aircraft on global missions. Included among his military decorations are the Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster, Aerial Achievement Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster, Air Force Achievement Medal, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Valor Devise and eight oak leaf clusters, Air Force Organizational Excellence Award, Combat Readiness Medal with two oak leaf clusters, Air Force Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster, Southwest Asia Service Medal with one bronze star, Air Force Longevity Service Award Ribbon with four oak leaf clusters, Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon with one bronze star and an Air Force Training Ribbon with one bronze oak leaf. Lt. Colonel James was a Command Pilot with over 3,800 hours in the KC-135A, KC-135E, KC-135R, KC-135Q, T-1A, T-38A and the OV-10A. Terry is survived by his wife: Tammy James of the home; his parents: Weldon & Virginia James of Broken bow, Oklahoma; sons: Robert Oakley of Bristol, Virginia and John Lee Polson of Crossville, Tennessee; daughter: Sarah Beth James: of Edmond, Oklahoma; brothers: Roger Lee James & wife Brenda of San Leon, Texas and Lee Weldon James Jr. & wife Cheryl of LA; along with a host of other relatives and friends.Cemetery:Crown Hill Cemetery, Broken Bow, OK To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Lt. Col. Terry C. James, please visit our floral store.