James Paul “Jim” Fero was born in Sioux City, IA on September 18, 1935 to Bob and Pearl Fero. Jim was an outstanding athlete in high school in Pickstown, SD, class of 1953. He went to Iowa State University on a track scholarship and was then appointed to the United States Military Academy.
After some trouble with the English Department, he did well the rest of his time at West Point. Sports were a major focus for Jim. He got his numerals for track plebe year and received a Major “A” his last three years. He also played hockey his first two years, getting numerals plebe year. Jim also found time for outdoor sports such as skiing and the Outdoor Sportsman Club.
He graduated in 1960. In 1962, he married Linda Toepert.
Jim wrote in his class’s Thirtieth Reunion book, “I probably had one of the strangest careers of our class. My 201 file will show 16-and-a-half years of overseas assignments out of 20 years served. The only assignments I had in CONUS were to go to school: basic, airborne and Ranger after graduation; graduate school at Iowa State University (M.S. in civil engineering), the advanced course at Belvoir, and finally CGSC.”
His assignments included Korea (two years), Australia (two years), Vietnam (two-and-a-half years), Hawaii (two years), Saudi Arabia (two years), and Alaska for six years, three with the Alaska Command and three with the Alaska Engineer District, from which he retired as a lieutenant colonel.
His assignments included being selected as an engineer exchange officer to the Australian Army, to Korea to oversee the construction and management of a 250-mile multi-purpose petroleum pipeline by the U.S. Corps of Engineers, and three tours in Vietnam during the Vietnam War that were highlighted by being selected as the operations officer of an engineer battalion totaling over 10,000 soldiers tasked with constructing roads and bridges throughout Vietnam under combat conditions.
During Jim’s career he was decorated by three governments: U.S., Australian and Vietnamese. He received the Legion of Merit, three Bronze Stars, three Air Medals, two Gallantry Crosses with silver stars (Vietnamese government) and two Soldiers Medals for valor presented through the Office of the President of the United States for saving the lives of two soldiers on two different occasions.
When Jim reached 20 years of service, he had not even thought about retiring, as he and Linda had enjoyed Army life, but then he got orders for the Pentagon. He and Linda chose the place they loved and decided to spend the rest of their days in Alaska. Jim immediately went to work for ARCO (Atlantic Richfield Company) as the construction manager of the North Slope oil field in Prudhoe Bay, a location which at one time supplied 20 percent of all U.S. domestic oil. For the next 15 years, his job involved oversight of the fabrication sites in Japan and Korea, plus numerous lower 48 locations where the modules were fabricated. He logged over two million frequent flyer miles.
His job at Prudhoe Bay was a one-week-on, one-week-off site. This enabled Jim the opportunity to start hunting and fishing all around the world, as well as in Alaska. Jim visited all the continents and over 100 countries in one capacity or another. On many of these trips, Linda was able to accompany him. Hunting and fishing in Alaska were special to Jim and Linda. Their float plane got them to all the locations. Summers were spent at their cabin on the Kenai River near Soldotna, AK.
Jim also served as the Public Works director for Anchorage, AK for six years, a chance to give back to his community. He built and ran a small golf course and an air-inflated indoor driving range. He served as president and owner of the Tanglewood Lakes Golf Club. In 1988, Jim and four others produced and sold worldwide a super-premium vodka rated as one of the top three in the world.
Ernie Remus writes: “Jim Fero was my roommate all four years at USMA. He was a very talented athlete. Prior to West Point, Jim was a decathlon winner at Iowa State. He was especially good at the pole vault and high jump. Although he was a turnback, he was very bright academically and saved me in topo. We did not communicate very often after graduation, until he became ill. I helped Linda, his wife, the days before he passed away. He was an avid hunter, traveling around the world. I remember him confronting the regimental staff First Class year…I had to intercede. He and Linda lost their only daughter in an auto accident. Jim was a good guy, period.”
Jim was buried at West Point next to his daughter, Michelle. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his brother Dick. He is survived by Linda, his wife of 58 years; two brothers, John and Tom; and several nephews and nieces.
And when our work is done
Our course of earth is run
May it we said “Well Done
Be Thou at Peace.”
Well Done, Jim; Be Thou at Peace.
— Classmates