James Philo Isenhower, Jr. and I met in Room 301 of East Barracks on 1 July 1965. I was privileged to be his friend until 22 October 1985, when he died at Fort Gordon after a valiant struggle against cancer. He was, in my opinion and the opinion of many classmates, the most professional, most dedicated, yet also most human officer that our Class produced.
Jim was born on 13 October 1946, in Hickory, North Carolina, one of four children of James P. and Mary Lillian Isenhower. He was graduated from Newton-Conover High School in 1965 and was appointed to the Academy by Congressman Basil Whitener.
At the Academy, Jim was both popular and professional right from the start. I remember him leading cadences during Beast Barracks only weeks after being introduced to the military’s ways. I distinctly recall his pleasure at being the only member of our squad to be recognized by our platoon leader on the last day of Beast. Ours was, I believe, the only Beast squad to graduate all its members, and each of us was touched by Jim’s drive, enthusiasm, and friendship.
Jim went from 9th New Cadet Company to Company C-4, which was his home for the next four years. In a group of strong performers, Jim emerged quickly as a leader. As a result, it was no surprise to anyone that he was the permanent company commander of C-4 at graduation.
Jim’s wisest decision was to marry Margaret Lee Wilcox in Chatham, New Jersey, on 7 June 1969. Peg was at once Jim’s better half, biggest supporter, and best friend, and, from that day, I never recall anyone speaking of Jim without mentioning Peg in the same breath.
Commissioned in the branch he loved, Jim set off in August 1969 for the Infantry Officer Basic Course and Airborne School at Ft. Benning. Only a bad case of blood poisoning kept him from earning his Ranger tab.
The following year found Jim, Peg, and new son, James P. Isenhower, III, in Aschaffenburg, Germany. Jim was a platoon leader in the 1st Battalion, 7th Infantry, then later Headquarters Company commander of the 3rd Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division.
In November 1972, Jim was an honor graduate from flight school at Fort Rucker, where he also took a Chinook transition course. The important development of that year, however, was the birth of Megan Lynn on 2 September.
Jim left for Vietnam on 8 December 1972. He flew Chinooks out of Danang with the 62nd Aviation Company, 1st Aviation Brigade, and earned a Bronze Star Medal and three Air Medals for his outstanding performance.
Jim returned to Fort Rucker in April 1973 and served on the school staff as a plans officer. He attended the Armor Officer Advanced Course at Fort Knox from July 1975 until March 1976, graduating on the commandant’s list.
In April 1976, the family moved to Fort Lewis, where Jim was, successively, S-3 Air of 2nd Brigade, S-l of the 2nd Battalion, 60th Infantry Division, and commander of C Company, 2/60 Infantry, 9th Infantry Division. In 1977, he was named an Outstanding Young Man of the Year by the US Jaycees.
Promoted to major two years below the zone on 12 June 1978, Jim began Armed Forces Staff College in July and was an honor graduate in January 1979.
In May 1979, Jim assumed command of the 213th Assault Support Helicopter Company in the 19th Aviation Battalion in Korea. He returned to the States in May 1980 and was assigned as Secretary of die General Staff of the 1st Infantry Division at Fort Riley. In November 1981, he became S-3 of the 1st Brigade.
It gives a good insight into Jim to quote from his assignment preference statement of 9 November 1981: “I prefer to command a mechanized infantry battalion. I have specifically tailored each of my previous assignments toward preparing for this assignment. My purpose in attending flight school was to make myself a more effective infantryman. The honor of command is one I will accept in either specialty. However, I much prefer to command in the infantry.”
Jim got his wish and was among the first in our Class selected for command, in his case a mechanized infantry battalion in Germany. He was in a pre-command language course at Monterey in early 1983 when his cancer was first diagnosed. In March, he had surgery in Letterman Hospital at the Presidio, and he began radiotherapy later at Walter Reed. During part of this period, Jim and Peg lived with us, and it was an inspiration to see him fighting back so hard, always with the firm belief that he would command an infantry battalion. He volunteered for temporary duty at the Pentagon during the treatment, and he pushed himself to run hard every morning.
In October 1983, Jim had improved enough to become Inspector General of the 24th Infantry Division at Fort Stewart. On 14 February 1985, he reached his career goal and assumed command of the 2nd Battalion, 34th Infantry. I spoke to Jim on that day by telephone, and sensed clearly his pride, excitement, and anticipation.
Sadly, battalion command was to be Jim’s last assignment. He died on 22 October 1985, after surgery both at Fort Stewart and then at Fort Gordon. The latter surgery team included our classmate, Bob Brigham, who had been a member of our Beast squad 22 years before and who was a great help to Jim and Peg in those difficult days. In Bob’s words, “Jim’s last days were a model of bravery and love. Despite numerous operations and constant pain he maintained an outstanding sense of humor. Sensing the sorrow and desperation of those who loved him, he was more concerned in improving their spirits than dwelling on his own pain. The example he set for his family and friends will never be forgotten.”
Jim was buried in Conover, North Carolina, with full military honors on 26 October 1985. It was a beautiful fall day and hundreds of friends, colleagues, and classmates attended. The funeral cortege was over one mile long, stretching as far back as the eye could see.
In 1986, a new enlisted housing area at Fort Stewart was named Isenhower Terrace in Jim’s honor. Also, since Jim’s death, ten of our classmates have written or called to share their memories of Jim.
Cor Westerhoff served with Jim at Fort Riley: “Jim didn’t look at the Army as a job or even a profession; it was truly a way of life for him. He was in every sense the complete officer: a total professional with a sense of humor, too rare a combination.”
Bill Ward knew Jim through sports at the Academy: “Jim was the kind of guy you just naturally gravitated to. He combined the ability to win friends easily with a convincing leadership style. Even in the midst of the most hectic professional obligations, Jim was never too busy to season a friendship with a few cheerful, uplifting words.”
Hugh Donohue replaced Jim as a Beast company commander in the summer of 1968: “7th Company had a superb elan; Ike just sat in the middle, as if all he had to do was give them their free rein. Only later did I see how he made the difficult seem easy.” Hugh is now a surgeon, and he wrote that “Jim’s battle with cancer was a gallant fight, one that touched those of us who must deal with this disease process all too frequently.”
To these eloquent comments, I will add that we have lost a true friend, but only for a short while. As he did all his career, Jim is once again leading and preparing the way for the rest of us. We look forward to serving with him again, in that eternal assignment promised to us all. God bless, Jim, from all in ‘69.
Robert M. Kimmitt