James Witt was born on July 28, 1946. His home of record is Bayonne, NJ. A graduate of Horace Mann School and Bayonne High School, Witt attended Lincoln Technical Institute in Newark, NJ, for a year before joining the US Marine Corps in May 1967.

Witt enjoyed car mechanics (rebuilding engines), weight lifting (body building), and guitar music. He also enjoyed making other people laugh.

Witt attained the rank of Private First Class (PFC) and assigned to Company B, 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division.

On March 17, 1968, Witt was killed in action near Quang Nam, South Vietnam, when he received a gunshot wound to the head from a hostile rifle fire. He was 21 years old.

Witt received the Rifle Sharpshooter Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Republic of Vietnam Service Medal, the Gallantry Cross with Palm Medal, the Military Merit Medal and the Purple Heart.

Sources: Patricia Witt-Pappasso (sister) and NJVVMF.
12/17/2024