James Hammond Foresman III

Navy Commander James Hammond Foresman III, of The Fairfax at Fort Belvoir, Virginia died peacefully at the Fort Belvoir Community Hospital on May 23, 2021. James was born on August 27, 1932, in Knoxville Tennessee, he was the son of the late James Hammond Foresman Jr. and Alice Watson Foresman.

In addition to his parents, James is predeceased by his son, Bruce Lawrence Foresman and his brother, Farris Watson Foresman. In 1957 he graduated from the United States Naval Academy and later earned a master’s degree at the U.S. Naval Postgraduate school in Monterey, Ca. Prior to entering the Naval Academy he served as a U.S. Navy radioman for three years, earning the highest rating in amateur radio.

During his naval career he served as a Naval Aviator in two patrol squadrons and was an instructor at the U. S. Naval Academy. He served tours of duty at the Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency, and the Center for Naval Analyses. Following his military career, he developed and managed the Tactical Nuclear Warfare Awareness program for Ketron, Inc.

He was an avid sailor, golfer and musician and was president and team captain of the Fort Belvoir Retired Members Golf Association. An accomplished drummer, he once led a dance band at the U.S. Naval Academy and played in the academy’s Drum and Bugle Corps. He was also a leader and founder of Jazz and Dixieland bands at the Naval Academy. He sailed throughout the Chesapeake Bay racing and cruising. He lived in the Riverside Estates area of Alexandria for more than 45 years.

James is survived by his wife, Joy Foresman; his son David Lee Foresman and wife Madeline Garnett Foresman; three grandchildren, David Lee Foresman Jr., Eleanor Hunter Foresman and Henry Garnett Foresman, all of Alexandria; a sister-in-law Ernestine Foresman; nephew Farris Watson Foresman Jr. and a niece Kaye Foresman Thomas, all of McDonough, Ga.

A service will be held at The Fairfax at Belvoir Woods on June 24th at @2 pm.