James Alden Check

West Point, 1951

Be Thou At Peace

Posted by Jose A. "Andy" Chacon on August 28, 2004:

James Alden Check Born March 25, 1928 - Died October 13, 1991 James Alden "Jim" Check was born in Stevens Point, Wisconsin on 25 March 1928 and was appointed to West Point from his Congressional District. His West Point classmates recall: "Jim came to the Point from the Air Force via Stewart Field and it has been Air Force with him during his stay at the Academy. Jim spent his free time building model planes and exhausting the library's book supply to catch up on his reading. Notorious for his enormous appetite he is always ready with gems of witticism and good-natured sarcasm that keep the whole crowd in good spirits." During his cadet days Jim was with the Model Airplane Club all four years; went out for Fencing plebe year and earned Numerals and was with the Debate Council; was with the German Club yearling, cow, and first class years; was with the Radio club cow and first class years; and was a Cadet Sergeant his first class year. Upon graduation Jim surprised everyone and went in the Armored Corps and after completing the Basic Armored Course at Fort Hood, Texas reported 140th Tank Battalion in Korea in 1952 then in 1953 he went with the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment. In 1957 Jim earned a Master of Science degree in Engineering from Purdue University and on completion was assigned to the Ordnance Department at West Point where he served as an Instructor until 1961 while at the same time changing his branch affiliation to the Ordnance Corps and going to The Ordnance School, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland where he stayed at Headquarters until 1963 when he was selected to attend the Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. Jim's next assignment was to the Space and Missile Agency in France where he served from 1963 to 1965 when he was named Commanding Officer of the 84th Ordnance Battalion in Germany and served as such until 1967. Next Jim attended the Armed Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Virginia in 1967 and on completion was named Project Manager at Army Tank Automotive Center where he served until 1969 and was awarded the Legion of Merit for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services. In 1970 Jim served at Headquarters, United States Army Reserve Vietnam and in the same year returned to stateside and assignment as Director of Ammunition Development and Evaluation at the Picatinny Arsenal and served until 1972 and was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal for conspicuously meritorious performance of duty in a non-combat situation. From 1972 to 1973 Jim served with Military Assistance Advisory Group, Republic of China and then accepted his last military assignment to Materiel Management Center, Army Depot where he served until his retirement from the United States Army as a Colonel in 1975. Jim died in Lexington, Kentucky on 13 October 1991 where Mrs. James A. Check (Helen) makes her home. jac; 18146, wc 473

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