LANDRUM, JAMES ALFRED

BRONZE STAR, ARMY COMMENATIONS MEDAL, PURPLE HEART, NATIONAL DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL, VIETNAM SERVICE MEDAL, VIETNAM MILITARY MERIT MEDAL, VIETNAM CROSS OF GALLANTRY WITH PALM, VIETNAM CAMPAIGN MEDAL

James Landrum was born June 25,1943 in Fort Gibson, Oklahoma, the son of Pauline Farrow and Ernie A. Landrum. Both parents had multiple marriages and with half siblings to James. He had three brothers and four sisters. He attended school in Fort Gibson, Liberty Oklahoma and Seminole, Texas. His parents divorced when James was ten years old, and he lived with his mother and stepfather at Fort Gibson, Oklahoma until he entered the Army in 1962. He was married to Vicki Gibeau of Edwardsville, Illinois and was the father of a daughter, Charolette.
He completed basic training at Fort Polk, Louisiana and Military Police AIT at Fort Gordon, Georgia. He achieved the rank of Sergeant in the U.S. Army. James started his tour in Vietnam on January 28, 1969. He was assigned to 1st Platoon, 23rd MP Company, Americal Division (23rd Infantry). James and another M.P. detonated a 105mm round rigged as a mine while patrolling in a jeep outside the wire in a sand pit at LZ Bronco.
He was buried with full military honors in the Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis, Missouri. He was survived by his wife and daughter of Edwardsville, Illinois. Also survived by his mother, Pauline Ellis of Fort Gibson, Oklahoma and his father and stepmother of Seminole, Texas. He was predeceased by a sister, who died in 1957. He was survived by siblings, Rosemary, Hazel, Eddie, Rich and half-brother Hugh Ellis.