James Gaines, Jr. was born on October 7, 1948. His home of record is Jersey City, NJ. Born in Savannah, GA, he came to Jersey City at the age of four. He lived with his mother, Mrs. Sarah Lee Gaines. He attended School 5 and Ferris High School, where he played fullback on the football team. He also ran on the track team. Every morning for about five years he got up and ran several blocks in his track suit to keep in condition. After leaving school he worked at Christ Hospital in Jersey City for a year and a half as an operating room orderly. “He was liked by everybody” said his brother Ulysses also a corporal and a paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne Div. “He told good jokes and he liked to dance. He know all the latest dances and would go to ballrooms in Newark when he got a chance”. He was a member of Mount Olive Church, Jersey City NJ.

He served in the US Army and attained the rank of Private First Class (PFC).

Gaines was killed in action on February 2, 1969. He is buried at Beaufort National Cemetery in South Carolina.

Source: NJVVMF, Photo found on VVMF, Jersey Journal obit.
12/17/2024