Info Sheet - James "Jim" Kirker
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I was with D Troop from Jun 1969 until Nov 1970 (short time at Camp Fresno Jones). I was crew chief on Cobra 67-15820 (Ohio Express), then Cobra 68-17107 (Lady Godiva) with CPT Runyon.
I left the Army in 1978 as a SSG E6, turning down a promotion to SFC E7. I made the decision when President Carter gave amnesty to the draft dodgers.
I currently live in Woodville, TX, but go to my farm near West Union, OH in summer and still raise crops on it.
I retired from GE Aircraft Engines in 2009, then worked for Boeing Powerplant division as an independent contractor for a few years, then back to GE Aviation working 1,000 hrs a year as a Project Specialist. In 2017 my wife insisted it was time for me to retire.
My son joined the Army at 32 years old as a Combat Medic, leaving a good job as an EMT/Fireman. He spent a year in Afghanistan (2009-2010) with 1/17 Infantry, 5th Stryker Bde Combat Team. He was injured there, and passed away at Ft Lewis, Wa in 2015 at 42 years old.