Champion, LtCol James

LtCol James Champion

December 26, 1934  –  October 25, 2010

LtCol James H. Champion, U.S. Marine Corps Retired died peacefully on Monday, October 25, 2010 after an eleven year battle with three different cancers.

A decorated Vietnam veteran, Mr. Champion was born on December 26, 1934, in Paducah, Ky. He was born to the late \”Jack\” and Josephine Hampston Champion.

Following graduation from St. Mary’s High School in Paducah, KY in 1953, he enlisted in the Marine Corps, serving in Japan and Hawaii. Upon discharge he attended Peabody Teachers College in Nashville now part of Vanderbilt University, graduating in 1958. He was employed by Southern Bell Telephone prior to returning to active duty in 1962. A Marine infantry officer, he participated in operations in the Dominican Republic in 1965 and was assigned as Security Officer on USS Simon Lake, forward deployed in Holy Loch, Scotland in support of ballistic missile submarine nuclear deterrent patrols. Deployed to the Republic of Vietnam in 1968 and 1969 he participated in combat operations as a rifle company commander at Khe Sanh and during the 1968 Tet Offensive. He completed his tour as a Combined Action Program CAP team leader, including operations during the 1969 Tet Offensive. His combat decorations included the Bronze Star two awards, the Combat Action Ribbon and the Presidential Unit Citation two awards. Later assignments included the Naval War College where he also earned a Masters of Arts in International Relations from George Washington University, command of a Marine Infantry Battalion, 9th Marine Expeditionary Brigade Operations Officer in Okinawa, and Headquarters Marine Corps. He retired from active duty in 1981. Following retirement, he and his wife settled in Smithland, KY but later relocated to Aransas Pass, Rockport and Houston, TX.

He is survived by his beloved wife of 53 years Sylvia Murphy Champion; son Samuel James Champion NYC; daughter Teresa Champion; son in law John Quigley; and grandchildren Sydney and James Quigley, all of Springfield, VA.