US Navy Beach Jumpers Assoc.

In March of 1943, the U.S. Navy requested volunteers for 'prolonged, hazardous, distant duty for a secret project.' Although married to his beloved wife, Wilma, since only December 22, 1940, Jim answered the call as one of the first 180 officers to make up a Navy Special Warfare Unit, the Beachjumpers. This act of service before self defined how Jim lived his entire life. Jim was born in Bernie, Missouri, on March 8, 1918. He and his older brother, Claude, were raised primarily by their grandfather, who had been a horse and buggy medical doctor in southeastern Missouri. Upon graduation from high school, Jim enlisted in the Navy along with Claude, and together they completed Basic Training at Great Lakes, IL. After Communications School in San Diego, CA, Jim became a submarine rescue diver serving at Coco Solo Naval Station, Panama Canal Zone. The Navy selected him for advanced training at the Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC, where he studied advanced mathematics, science and engineering, and he worked on the latest radar technology. During this time, he rose through the ranks from Seaman Recruit through every enlisted grade including Chief Petty Officer, became a non- commissioned Chief Warrant Officer, and ultimately received a commission as an Ensign. On March 7, 1943, his older brother, who had become a Navy pilot, died in an aviation accident at North Island Naval Air Station, Coronado, CA. Shortly thereafter, Jim volunteered for the Beachjumpers and began training in Little Creek, VA, and on Ocacroke Island, NC. He first deployed to the Pacific Theatre with Beach Jumper Unit 3. That unit then traveled across North Africa to Bizerte, Tunisia, and after missions in Sicily and Italy, he participated with Beachjumper Unit 3 in a diversionary operation to draw German forces away from the real invasion force of Southern France in 1944. For its action in that invasion, the unit was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation, the highest Navy unit award. Jim re-deployed to the Pacific Theatre and participated in various missions with Beachjumper Unit 8, including its final training exercise for a mission to lure kamikazes away from the invasion of Japan that became unnecessary after President Truman authorized the use of atomic bombs. Upon his return to the United States, Jim left the Navy as a full Lieutenant in 1946, and had difficulty finding employment along with other veterans. He held a variety of positions including that of a disc jockey known as The Night Owl and a communications expert with Trans World Airlines. In 1948, he started in the radio room with Missouri Public Service Company, a privately owned electric utility that served the western third of Missouri. He rose through the ranks ultimately becoming the Vice- President of Operations. Upon his retirement in 1984, he proudly served as President of the Retired Employees of the company. During his career with the utility, he helped design and build numerous facilities to serve the company's franchise area including service to Whiteman Air Force Base for its Minuteman Missile System and for the Kansas City International Airport. Jim was active in the community in various civic organizations including Rotary. Jim was a terrific husband and father. He is survived by his wife, Wilma, and two children, daughter, Carolyn, her husband, Ted, and granddaughter, Lauren Allen, all of Kansas City, and son, James, Jr., his wife, Nancy, of Kansas City, and grandson, LT James Stanford Allen, III, USN, and his wife, Lauren, of Washington, DC. Jim is also survived by several nieces and nephews and many friends. Jim left this world peacefully on Oct. 14, 2012, with his beloved wife, Wilma, at his side, and his loyal dog, Cody, at the foot of his bed. The family thanks all of the kind and sensitive caregivers associated with John Knox Village Hospice, Lifestyles and Care Center, the Low Vision Department of the Veterans' Hospital, Kansas City, Missouri, and the staff and membership of Longview Chapel Christian Church. Contributions in lieu of flowers can be made in honor of Jim to the Longview Chapel Christian Church, 850 SW Longview Road, Lee's Summit, MO 64081. Visitation will be at 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2012, with a celebration of life starting at 12:30 p.m. at the Longview Chapel Christian Church. Burial will be at the Missouri Veterans' Cemetery, Higginsvile, MO. Arr: Missouri Funeral Care, 816-353- 1700. Published in Kansas City Star on October 19, 2012

U.S. Navy Beach Jumpers Association (727) 4-USNBJA

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