More detail on this person: James Persons was
born in Fort Worth and grew up in the East Texas
pines where he graduated from Rusk High School.
He then attended Texas A&M, Arlington State
College, East Carolina State, and Chapman
College. In June 1953, he enlisted in the Naval
Aviation Cadet Program. In 1954 he was awarded
his "wings of gold," and commissioned as a second
lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve.
During his career he flew 18 different types of
aircraft including jet, helicopter and transport,
holding transport aircraft commander and
helicopter commander designations, a rare
combination. He served three tours in Vietnam as a
Marine aviator flying helicopters. His awards and
decortations include: Bronze Star Medal, Air Medal
with 19 strike/flight awards, one single mission
Air Medal, Navy Presidential Unit Citation, Navy
Unit Commendation with two stars, Navy
Meritorious Unit Commendation, National Defense
Service Medal with one star, Armed Forces
Expeditionary Medal, Vietnam Service Medal,
Armed Forces Reserve Medal, Republic of Vietnam
Civil Actions Unit Citation, and the Republic of
Vietnam Campaign Medal. He retired from the
Marine Corps in 1974 after 22 years of service,
and settled in Arlington, Texas, with his wife and
two sons.
Retired, but not done, Lt. Col. Persons went on to
do commercial real estate management while
engaging in an array of community service
positions. He and his family were members of
Trinity United Methodist Church. He was a past
president of the Greater Southwest Rotary, past
member of the board of directors for the Arlington
Chamber of Commerce, and served on the advisory
committee for the American Red Cross. He was
known most recently as the past resident of the
Arlington Veterans Park Memorial Foundation,
which he initiated with the help of the Rotary
Club of Arlington in 2004. He also did volunteer
work for organizations such as the Salvation Army
at Christmas and the Kimbell Art Museum. Other
honors he received for his civic service included
the Rotarian of the Year Award, and Rotary
International's Paul Harris Fellow Award. An avid
hunter with his sons, he was also a proud
benefactor member of the National Rifle
Association. Other honors he received for his
civic service included Rotarian of the Year and
Rotary International's Paul Harris Fellow Award.
Survivors: His wife of 53 years, Sheri; his sons,
Jim Persons of Austin and Tim Persons and
daughter-in-law, Linda, of Kennedale, Texas. He is
also survived by his granddaughters, Ashleigh and
Autumn; brother and sister-in-law, Cliff and
Wynell Steely; aunts, Joy Morris and Martha Ann
Persons; nieces, Susan Steely, Madison Naymola,
Barbara Morgan, Vicki Leahy, Valorie Everett,
Kristine Steely; and nephews, Mike Steely, Chris
Steely and Ricky Morgan.
VHPA directory shows him as a potential memeber.
I edited all of the above from the newspaper
obituary. I think I listed his awards in proper
USMC order and eliminated duplicates. For full
obit, go to
http://www.star-telegram.com/obituaries/ and
search on "Persons."
This information was last updated 05/18/2016
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Date posted on this site: 03/10/2024
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