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JAMES MYRON KIRWIN, the only son of James and Mabel McLaughlin Kirwin,
was born in Maysville, KY. When Jim was six, his father was fatally injured
while working in California. His mother, blessed with inner
strength and good entrepreneurial skills, provided a normal and comfortable life
for Jim and his older sister, Enola. After graduating
from Millersburg Military Academy in Millersburg, KY, he studied physics for one
year at The Citadel and one year at Eastern Kentucky State College. He then
received a congressional appointment to West Point
in 1950.
Academics presented no problem to Jim. He was famous for asking on the
way to class, “What is today’s assignment?” and then maxing
the writ. A versatile person, he was at various
times a member of the French Club, the Russian Club, the Spanish Club, the
German Club, and the Debate Council. Jim was interested
in athletics and excelled in all of them. He was an easygoing cadet and had a
great sense of humor.
During his senior year, while hospitalized at the Post
Hospital, Jim met Army Nurse 1LT Elizabeth “Betty” Kohler. Jim had chosen
to serve in the Air Force upon graduation and had orders for flight training in
Bartow, FL. There was one problem: Betty had orders
for San Antonio, TX. After a whirlwind courtship, they were married 21 Jul 1954
in the Catholic Chapel at West Point. Jim reported
for duty in Florida, and Betty was able to join him a few months later.
Jim’s
flight training continued in San Angelo, TX, and then he attended a B-29 course
in San Antonio. His next assignment was with the Strategic Air Command, flying
B-47s, in the 70th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing at Little Rock AFB, AR, and
later flying
B-52s in the 384th Bomb Wing at Little Rock. Much of his duty at Little Rock was
spent on reflex action.
In 1961, Jim was assigned to study at the University of
Southern California, where he received two master’s degrees, in aerospace
engineering (guided missiles) and mechanical
engineering, in 1963. He subsequently worked for three years on various systems,
including
launch vehicles (such as the Agena) at the Space Systems Division in Los
Angeles.
In 1966, Jim transitioned into the O-1 aircraft to go to Viet Nam as a
forward air controller. Jim flew 157 combat missions for 366 combat hours and
102 out-of-country missions, between June and December 1966, from Tan Son Nhut
and Danang. During this period, Jim was awarded the Silver Star for his part in
the recovery of a downed American pilot. According to the citation, “on that
date, Captain Kirwin, at great personal risk, descended
to tree-top level in his O1-E to divert fire and attention from a downed
American pilot. With over 150 hostile troops in the immediate
area, CPT Kirwin was subjected to intense ground fire. Repeated passes at this
dangerous level were made with CPT Kirwin firing his M-16 at the numerous
soldiers.” Jim was awarded two Distinguished Flying Crosses for aiding in
finding and destroying large amounts of supplies and munitions as well as
automatic weapons sites in North Viet Nam, while placing himself at great
personal risk. His decorations also included 15 Air Medals and the Purple
Heart.
Returning to the U.S., Jim spent three years as the Air Force liaison
officer at the Naval Weapons Center at China Lake, CA. Afterwards, he worked on
missiles at Air Force Headquarters in the Pentagon.
In 1971, Jim retired with
disability due to a heart condition and returned to the Naval Weapons Center at
China Lake as an engineer
on the AIM-9L Sidewinder air-to-air missile. Jim had found his niche. He loved
the desert, the work environment and, most of all, the people with whom he
associated every
day. He definitely had more time for his family. During the fall, the Kirwins
attended many football games, both high school and college, watching their sons
take to the gridiron.
It was not unusual for them to drive the 150 miles to Los Angeles to cheer for
the Lakers during basketball season.
Jim enjoyed woodworking, and his biggest
endeavor was a canoe that he hoped to finish
some day. Wherever the Kirwins moved, the canoe went too, and it made at least
two cross-country trips with the family. Never finished, it was lovingly
christened “Kirwin’s Folly.” Another love was the outdoors, especially
the mountains.
“Living on the edge” and taking an occasional
calculated risk were part of Jim’s make-up. His love of the mountains found Jim
riding his Honda 90 near Silverton, CO, on 8 Sep 1974. His friends reported that
he laid his bike down and apparently died instantly—
three days before his 44th birthday. His family was devastated, but there was
some small consolation in believing he met his Creator while doing what he
loved.
A memorial service held in Jim’s honor at the base chapel at China Lake
was attended by colleagues and the family’s many friends. Two days later, the
family held a religious service in Maysville and buried his ashes in Mason
County Cemetery. His friend and classmate, Barron (Duke) Fredricks, attended, as
well as a color guard from Wright Patterson AFB, OH. His ashes remained there
until June 2005, when his daughter, Michele, returned to Kentucky and brought
her dad home. His wish had been to have his ashes scattered in the nearby desert
and mountains. Now Jim could leave the “bonds of earth … tread the sanctity of
space, put out his hand, and touch the face of God.” We love you. We miss you.
Requiescat in pace.
At the time of his death, Jim was survived by his wife Betty
and their three children: James P., Michele, and Thomas. Also surviving
were his mother; his sister Enola and her husband Carl; and their two children,
Cindy and Carl, Jr.
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