More detail on this person: Avalanche-Journal, Wednesday, January 13, 2010, Story last updated at
1/12/2010 - 5:38 pm This information was last updated 05/18/2016
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Date posted on this site:
08/31/2024
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Jim Hardy Clary passed away on Jan. 11, 2010. He was 70.
Jim was born on Sept. 23, 1939, in Plainview, Texas, the second son of Arthur and Gladys Clary. In
1941, the family moved from Plainview to Lubbock and established residence on 22nd Street, on a
block west of what was then College Avenue. At the time, 22nd Street was unpaved.
Jim attended public school in Lubbock at Roscoe Wilson Elementary, JT Hutchinson Jr. High, and
graduated from Monterey High School in 1958. He then entered Texas A&M University. In 1962, Jim
received a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Economics.
While attending A&M, Jim was a member of the Aggie Corps of Cadets and upon graduation, he
received a commission as a 2nd Lieutenant of Infantry in the U.S. Army. His first military
assignment was with the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, N.C. He served as a rifle platoon
leader. During this period, he led his platoon on 16 parachute jumps, including one of the largest
peace time military airborne maneuvers in U.S. history, Operation Swift Strike. After 12 months at
Fort Bragg, Jim entered the Army's Officer Rotary Wing Flight Training Program. He earned his Army
Aviator wings in 1964. His flight class was the first Army Aviator class to be assigned, as a class,
to Vietnam.
Jim spent two, one-year tours of duty in Vietnam, where he amassed over 1,000 hours of combat flying
time, the majority of which was in helicopter gunships. In 1965, Jim participated in the Battle of
the Ia Drang Valley, made famous by the Mel Gibson movie, We Were Soldiers Once, and Young. In
1968, Jim flew virtually around the clock during the Tet Offensive. For his efforts in Vietnam, Jim
was awarded the Silver Star, the Distinguished Flying Cross with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Vietnamese
Cross of Gallentry, the Air Medal with 23 Oak Leaf Clusters and 2 "V" devices, the Bronze Star and
the Army Commendation Medal. Jim was one of the first Army Aviators to fly the Huey Cobra Gunship
in combat. He separated from the service in 1971 with the rank of Major.
As a civilian, Jim established and operated an agricultural irrigation business in West Texas for
nine years. In 1980, he entered the financial services industry, where he spent the next 28 years
distinguishing himself as an Investment Advisor and Certified Financial Planner. During this time,
Jim received numerous awards and designations. His accomplishments provided Jim and his beloved
wife of 33 years, Sue, the opportunity to travel to many desirable domestic locations and numerous
international sites such as Brazil, Venezuela, Switzerland, Spain and Canada.
During his active career, Jim served a three-year term as a board member of Lubbock's Better
Business Bureau. He was a member of The Former Students Association at Texas A&M, The Aggie
Club, Lubbock A&M Club, Texas Tech's Red Raider Club, The Chancellor's Council at Texas Tech and
The West Texas Museum Association.
For the 14 years prior to his retirement in May 2008, Jim was the owner and principal of Clary
Securities, LLC, a Broker/Dealer and Clary Asset Management, LLC, a Registered Investment
Advisor.
Jim is survived by his wife Sue. They were married Aug. 10, 1976. Jim is also survived by his sons
from a previous marriage, Scott of San Antonio, David and Ross of Houston, and Stephen of Dallas.
It was Jim's wish that there be no memorial service.
Memorial gifts can be made to the American Cancer Society, 3411 73rd Street, Lubbock, TX
79423-1101.
Cremation arrangements are under the direct supervision of Lake Ridge Chapel and Memorial
Designers.
Jim H. Clary took his own life last night, 12 January, in Lubbock, Texas. Ray was notified by Jim's
ex-wife. Jim was a gunship pilot in the 119th Aviation Company and a TAMU graduate, as are Ray and
I. Jim was Class of 1962 and I think he was in the Field Artillery cadet battalion. He had been
estranged from his first family for years and we suspect PTSD. Ray thinks he is survived by a
second wife.
Jim left a note and we don't know the contents, except that he referred to a brain tumor. He drove
to a Lubbock park and used a handgun.
I remember Jim for his antics at the animal parties in the Dragon Den at Camp Holloway. I also
remember the time he escorted us on a combat assault out of Tuy Hoa. Jim put a pair of rockets
under a VC on a bicycle, who was pedaling like mad with an AK-47 slung on his back. According to
Jerry Riches, nothing much came down except a helmet and one bicycle wheel.
From: Chuck Oualline