World War II Honoree

Jim Coley

Branch of Service

U.S. Merchant Marine

Hometown

Meadville, Mississippi

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

VOLUNTEERED FOR SERVICE WITH THE U.S. MARITIME SERVICE (USMS). USMS WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR TRAINING MEN FOR THE U.S. MERCHANT MARINE (USMM). UPON COMPLETION OF TRAINING, HE WAS RELEASED FROM ACTIVE DUTY IN THE USMS AND WENT TO SEA IN THE MERCHANT MARINE. THE USMM WAS A CIVILIAN AUXILIARY OF THE U.S. NAVY THAT OPERATED A FLEET OF CIVILIAN-OWNED SHIPS THAT CARRIED CARGO AND PASSENGERS TO ALL FRONTS. SERVED IN THE USMM DURING THE WAR, INCLUDING AS A CHIEF COOK IN THE GALLEYS ABOARD THREE VESSELS. ONE OF WHICH, WAS AMONG THE FIRST TO ENTER MANILA HARBOR IN THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS IN 1945, DURING THE FIGHT TO RECAPTURE THE CITY. AWARDED THE PACIFIC WAR ZONE MEDAL, VICTORY MEDAL, PHILIPPINE LIBERATION MEDAL, AND HONORABLE SERVICE BUTTON. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AND ISSUED THE MERCHANT MARINE SERVICE EMBLEM.