JAMES WARREN ENGLAND
February 26, 1950 – January 25, 2014
Jim was born in Kingfisher, Oklahoma on February 26, 1950 to Harold Ray England (1928-2000) and Merilyn Jane (Andrews) England (1927-2014). Jim had a brother Gordon England born in 1952 who remained in Oklahoma until his death in 2016, a sister Margaret (England) Willey of Oklahoma City, OK and also a sister Judy (England) Didcoct of San Jose, CA.
Jim, like many of his generation, chose to serve the military right out of high school. He came from a family who were proud to serve. His Dad, Harold Ray England, served in the US Army from 1946-1948. Jim grew up in Oklahoma and Texas, but at the age of 17 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 Long Range Patrol (LRRP) and was team leader of R-28 for Company K (Ranger), 75th Infantry (Airborne). 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. Jim continued to serve and retired in 1985 as a Master Sgt.
Upon retirement, 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
On the morning of January 25, 2014 MSG (Ret.) James “Jim” Warren England succumbed to his last battle of the Vietnam War after a brief, 6-month fight against aggressive cancer, attributed to exposure to Agent Orange from his time a LRRP with K Co 75th Ranger Regiment 4th Infantry Division. He is survived by his wife Susan, sons James and Charles, daughters-in-law Tamra and Phoebe, grandchildren Vanessa, Courtney, Trevor and Brandon, Mother Merilyn, sisters Dorothy and Judy, and brother Gordon. He is also survived by the memory in the minds of all the men he served with and the honor he bestowed upon himself, his brother Rangers and his family.
