Jim Willmon, U.S. Marine Corps.

Jim Wilmon, Major, USMC (Retired)


I served in the Marine Corps from September 1968 through August 1990. Initially enlisting and serving within the Aircraft Maintenance field, I was a Crew Chief on CH-46 helicopter. After my initial training in Tennessee and California, I served two years in Vietnam at such exotic locations as Quang Tri, Phu Bi, and Marble Mountain. During my twenty-two years of active service, I spent three and one half years aboard Aircraft Carriers (LHA New Orleans, USS Constellation, USS Kitty Hawk, USS Vinson, & USS Teddy Roosevelt to name a few). I also served two tours at Naval Air Station New Orleans and seven years at different squadrons at MCAS Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii. Other duty stations of note are: Iwakuni, Japan; Manila Bay, Philippines; Okinawa; NAS Lemoore, California; MCAS New River, North Carolina; MCAS Santa Ana, California; CNAP San Diego, California; OPNA V-OS, Washington, D.C; and numerous other ports, stations, and deployments.

I began my career as an enlisted man, and after receiving numerous meritorious promotions in 6-1/2 years as a Staff Sergeant (E6); I put in for, and was selected for Warrant Officer. After two years as a CWO-2, I was selected for Limited Duty Officer and became a First Lieutenant. While serving at the Pentagon in charge of Aviation Enlisted Training and working for OP-05, I was promoted to Major (04) and that was the rank held at retirement.

My awards include; Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal (6V), Navy Commendation Medal (I *),Navy Achievement Medal (2*), Combat Action Ribbon, Navy Presidential Unit Citation, Navy Unit Commendation (1*), Meritorious Unit Commendation (2*), Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal (1*), National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam service Medal (4*), Sea Service Deployment Ribbon (3*), Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation, Republic of Vietnam Civil Action Unit Citation, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, Combat Aircrew Wings, Expert Rifleman Badge, Sharpshooter Pistol Badge.

Writing this is very humbling and seems to be too much about me. The best news of all of this is that during all of this time, having accepted Christ at a youth camp in 1965, He was with me throughout the entire ordeal. He also laid in work to have Judith and I meet at MCAS New River, N.C. and subsequently marry in New Orleans in 1973.

There are many times in my twenty two plus years in the Marine Corps where we've felt His presence and known He was watching over us; however there are too many to list in this small sampling of our lives in the Corps. I will briefly explain a few instances where God has proven time and time again that He is my Provider and Protector. Once while in Vietnam, we were manning our assigned bunkers because the base was under attack. After a long night of watching, praying, and continual fighting we discovered at day break that a missile had landed within fifteen feet of our bunker but not gone off (it was a dud). Another time in Vietnam, the plane I was flying in was shot up so badly the pilots could not even monitor the gauges from the vibrations. A lot of people said I was just lucky in both of the instances, but I know He was in control and watching over me. My youngest daughter was born after my wife had been advised to have a tubal ligation for health related reasons. The doctor's called it a miracle, and they were right, because He is sovereign and in control. Also, my second oldest son was burnt in an accident with 2nd and 3rd degree burns over his chest, neck, and hands. Although the doctor's told us that plastic surgery would be required and we could anticipate at least four or five operations to do the skin grafts, God again showed us that He is our provider, since it took only one skin graft to accomplish the surgery. As I mentioned above there are many other instances that we could list here, but just stop us in the hallways of the church if you have the time to hear a story or two, because our Redeemer is Faithful and True.