James A. Layman

MEDALS-RIBBONS: Good Conduct, Navy Unit Commendation, National Defense Service, United Nations Service Korean Service w14 Stars

Served on USS Valley Forge with the Catapult and Arresting Crew and as crew member on the AD Skyraider. Later became an Aviation Storekeeper Chief aboard USS Shangri-La.

James was born on December 20, 1932 in the coal town of Ameagle, West Virginia.   His parents were seeking a healthier air quality for their offspring of 4, and therefore moved out to San Diego, California in 1943.   That is where James attended Roosevelt Junior High and San Diego High School. 

James played with a Double A Minor League Baseball team, however it was cut short by the onset of the Korean War and before becoming compulsory he enlisted in the Navy.   James started his 9 years of Navy career on an arresting gear crew, catching planes as they land.  He was promoted to the catapult crew, launching planes.   He then became a crewmember on an AD Sky Raider which got shot down in the enemy territory of North Korea.  He was captured and sent to the prison camp in Hamgyong.  6 months later the Turkish force came in and rescued him and the other prisoners.   Later James was a flight crew member out of Travis AFB transporting military personnel across the Pacific.   James final service as an Aviation Storekeeper gave him great experience in his civilian life.

As a civilian James became a supervisor at National Steel & Ship Building for 7 years.   He worked for 4 years at Rohr Industries and was involved in the manufacturing of the railcars for BART in the San Francisco Bay Area.  He retired after 26 years with UCSD as supervisor in Material Distribution.   James has 3 children, 3 step-children and 10 grandchildren.  He resides in Carlsbad, California with his wife Patty of 33 years.