I'm going to miss you Jim..  May you rest in peace.  You were a valiant warrior..  GARRY OWEN!!   S-A-L-U-T-E

Proud to have knwon a true hero and gentlemen RIP Lori Durno

  I  Salute You, Sarge!  May you Rest in Peace after 47yrs of  Survival of the  IA DRANG  Valley!  The good  Lord called you to His Eternal  Rest, my  Brother!   Jim;  It  was an  Honor to have served in the Surroundings of the Battle of the IA DRANG  Valley with you, and Our Brothers  at   LZ-XRAY, AND  LZ-ALBANY.  Our Fallen Brothers, and all of us that Remain!  Say, Hello to Our Brothers, and Sisters for Us!   LZ-XRAY Edward  Times!  Wreath Layer!  GarryOwen!!!

Gary Owen Jim - You were  one of the best Company Commanders I served with
in 65  It was an honor to be in the 7th Cav under your leadership


Bill Jarousky (jimook1@sbcglobal.net)

Garry Owen Trooper, may your trip to "Fiddler's Green" be a good one. Say hello to our old friends. Thank you, for trying to make the 7th Cavalry Regiment Association, a good one.
Bill Litvjak C 5/7 CAV '69

Jim, not only were you a gentleman, you were a true American warrior and a hero. I'm proud to have known you, and glad we were also able to communicate via email for such a long time. You had a voice I will never forget.God had watched over you and Judy for a long time. May He hold you and Judy close to  His Bosom. I'm proud to have served with the 5/7 Cav A Company & 2/7 Cav D Company 1966-'67. Garryowen, dear trooper, - Joe Sanchez www.bluewallnypd.com

Jim, you were a veterans veteran, it was an honor to know you and Judy.
RIP my good friend
Garryowen,
Bob Windell

RIP my friend and fellow trooper in Vietnam! You fought a honorable fight and I Loved you very much. Garryowen my Friend. I know all your pain is gone and you are in the hands of our lord and savior Jesus.

 I first met Jim at a 2nd. of the 7th.  reunion in Tennessee in 2006 sponsored by Bud Alley, who knew him well.  I'd  love to listen to the funny stories he told about building the Officers club and how he acquired, or stole, the building supplies and his road trips from our base camp in to Qui Nhon on the coast, via Highway #19.
 He would tell anyone that would listen at the time not to kill the sniper on Highway #19, every time he would go through there that sniper would fire on them and he would not even come close to hitting anyone.
 I would be entertained by his stories for hours along with a large group of us.
 I went a reunion he had to dedicate RICK ROSCOLA's statue and a I beam from the World Trade Center, which was brought down on NYC fire truck to Ft Benning, Ga.
 I think I saw him at a total of five times at different reunions.  
        He will be truly missed...
Salvatore "Mike" Scalato

May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face;
the rains fall soft upon your fields and until we meet again,
may God hold you in the palm of His hand.

Jim, Go with God. Bless you for all the comfort you have offered and given to your brother trooper's, we will see you on the other side. Lead on, Sir.

Met Jim a couple of months ago when he came thru Bristow and was friends with him many years thru e-mails. RIP old friend.  

Will Parish
Bristow, Ok

Although I never met Jim in person, I had many telecons with him in the 90s and early 00s. He was a good sincere man who ALWAYS thought of how he could help make the 3rd BDE reunions and former members better and maintaining contact. I remember he got bored at some point in his retirement and took a paper route. My brother-in-law does the same thing at age 67 just to keep busy. Jim was a good friend who I will miss knowing he was always there for us.
Dennis Deal
1-7 CAV

All that new you will surely miss you. I had not seen "uncle jim" or "aunt Judy" in several years but they both made memories on my heart that will last a lifetime.

It's a sad day day but at the same time we pause to reflect on a wonderful man, husband, father and fellow soldier.

Jim was elected Vice-President of the 7th Cavalry at Fort Bragg in 2000. I was elected Secretary / Treasurer at the same time and we had a wonderful working relationship for 12+ years.

In 2002 Jim was elected President of the 7th Cavalry Association and served in that capacity until 2010. Later that year the honorary position of President Emeritus was created solely because and to honor Jim.

He is the one man resposible for the financial growth and well being of our Association. His ideas and projects were many but his efforts with elements of the 1/7, 2/7 and 3/7 to honor their fallen brothers with Limited Edition 7th Cavalry Belt Buckles generated the most activity.

He is also responsible for us becoming a Non-Profit Organization, an idea that frustrated a few.

He and I worked hand in glove on collecting and inventoring hundreds of rosters, unit orders and the like to better cronicle the days of VietNam, Iraq and Afganistan and to build an archive of these documents for the Association.

These orders have helped many soldiers to reconnect and in some cases to get needed benefits.

My last e-mail with him was just 20 days ago and he was giving me thoughts and ideas to continue the push of the Association forward.

Jim now rejoices with his beloved Judy and is probably looking down on us right now and saying "what's all this fuss about?"

That was Jim.

A good friend gone but never forgotten.

GarryOwen Jim!

You certainly did "Lived The Legend."

Bob Anderson
Secretary / Treasurer
7th Cavalry Association

Met Jim at our Charlie Company 2/7th Reunion about 7 years ago.  He knew the rosters frontwards and backwards.  Helped tremendously in finding guys from Charlie Co 2/7 and especially 3rd Platoon.  Gary Owen old friend and drink one for me at that BIG PX in the SKY.

Nick Schultz

Jim I will miss exchanging emails with you about unit rosters and looking for unit members.It was honor to know you.May god bless you and your family until we meet again my friend.
Johnnie L DeWitt
Ret 1SG
B co 1/7th Cav 65-66. Austin,Texas

Jim's devotion to the Seventh Cavalry cannot be measured by any standard. The Garry Owen Perimeter was strengthened by his determination and incalculable diligence. He will be missed, yet not forgotten.

We met Jim in DC at the 1ST CAV Reunion. A very nice person with a great smile. He truly looked like A Real CAV Trooper. 
with his big Mustache and his CAV Stetson. You knew by the way he carried himself that he was proud to be a part of THE FIRST CAV. May God Bless him and his family. He will be missed.  
John & Shirley

I am very sorry to hear of Jim's death.  His role as a leader in the 1st Cavalry Division Association and the 7th U.S. Cavarly Regiment Association speaks volumes of his character.  He will be missed at the reunions and meetings.  Garryowen Sir!

Heartfelt Sympathy for the loss of a Dear, Kind, always Cheerful man, the times he stopped by our house to chat for a while, Veteran's Day I saw him going to his door & stopped, chatted w/him, I'll never forget that smile when I came walking up his driveway, his greeting to me was; "Gosh-it's so good to see you!" We talked, when I went to leave his words to me were; "Gosh, I'm glad you stopped by; tell John I said 'Hello'!" 
We met Jim @ one of our 1st Cav Reunions in DC years ago; & discovered we were neighbors; living just blocks apart. I Thank God for having known Jim, so sad to remember his smile from just a couple weeks ago, but I know you were greeted by all your Fallen Hero 'Band of Brothers' when you left here! Gary Owen Jim

Met Jim at my first convention in 2001 in Texas.He was a real trooper with lots of stories.I always enjoyed his company.D 2/7 66-67.

Jim thank you for all you have done for our country and espscially from those of us who served with you in the 7th Cavalry. We will see you again at Fiddlers Green. I know you are enjoying a welcome there now. Gary Owen old friend. Jon and Nancy Wallenius

Jim was a good friend to the men of Charlie 2/7, we will miss him. He did so much to reconnect Vietnam vets, and asked nothing in return. I will miss the cheerful morning coffee with Jim at C 2/7 reunions.

Gave Jim all of my Viet Nam pictures, and books so he could donate it to Texas Tech archive's for me. I met him at our reunion at Snuffies. What a super hero to me.

Jim will truly be missed. Met him more then 20 years ago. GarryOwen and Glory.

Greg Molesworth C2/7

Know Jim around 10 years,just two Cav veteran from North Carolina.
 Gary Owen Brother

~Honoring A Noble Warriors Life~
Who Made A Difference 
 FOR OUR BROTHER, JIM... Garry Owen
http://namtour.com/noblewarriortaps.html
by Gary Jacobson Â© 2002 

Play last taps over a noble warrior's sacred grave
Now gone before, the better way to pave
From the hall's of Montezuma, to the shores of Tripoli
Over hill, over dale, blazing the shadow of death's victory
Comforted are we,
This valiant spirit now found rebirth
For he tirelessly toiled in war's hells on earth

His destiny lies where the sound of guns are heard no more
Enter now that Holiest door to heaven's celestial shore
Reserved for those who gave all standing hickory tall
For family, hearth and home fighting the good fight
Resisting opponents of right with fists of valorous might
Who lived and died for liberty
That all mankind might breathe eternally free

Proud wave his bold legacy
Great courage in greater bravery
A heroes heritage in honored history
Hear this patriotic life story
A stouthearted tradition of faith and loyalty
Revered duty to truth his gallant birthright
With zeal sworn our nation's brightest light

Winds whispering of Divine peace in God's kingdom
Blow softly over hallowed grave of a leader of freedom
O'er a man who more than self his country loved
Who madmen's wrongs in this wide world righted
Who peace on earth so diligently fought for
Who for a consecrated flag, arms he bore
Whenever duty called, always marching to the fore

We will never forget him...
Metered with Pure patriotism's dignity
Answerng that clarion call to sacred beings infinity
Head held proudly high with an eagles steely gaze
On ascent to heaven, herald angels triumphant glory raise
Singing of life's many deeds worthy of praise
For him stalwartly true to his beliefs abode all his days

A warrior's death, only a warrior to higher slopes moving his camp
Strategically to higher ground, free from mortality's dews and damp
Moving to a position more defendable to protect divinity's face
To a sacred place near the Master's grace
No more to suffer a warriors tired and weary bones
Immortal healing free from life's slings and arrows atones

Now he's free at last from earthly toil and pain
Heaven's richest blessings to this valiant warrior ordain
Who smiled in the face of fear with disdain
Opposing madmen to the suffering of others cavalier
Standing as a worthy barrier to make life for others easier
Family, friends and country in devotion protecting
Inalienable rights guarding

Celebrate now the life of father, brother, son exalted
All hail his life true to values precepts honored
Who powers of mortal evil with his good right arm abated
Pass now into arms of brothers again reunited
Into the arms of beloved family on the other shore waiting
For this soldier's very being embodied giving
Who left this world a better place for his living...

Garry Owen, my brother. Those who knew, appreciated and loved Jim Brigham were saddened greatly by this news. I really looked forward to seeing Jim every year at a 1st Cav reunion. He and I as Okies, corresponded a lot ... I remember one time Jim regaled me with his story of returning from the Nam, where he ran his car into a lake near his home of Shawnee ... a lake that had not been there before he went to Nam. He was a great man, whom I will remember and revere always.

Gary Owen Jim it's been an honor to know you

I was so sorry to hear of Jim's passing. Please accept my heartfelt sympathy for a good friend and fellow Cav veteran. We will all miss him greatly. (This picture was taken at one of our 1st Cavalry reunions.)

Sincerely,

Rolando Salazar (Co. D, 2/7th Cav, 1st Cav. Div., 1966-1967)

OBITUARY

J.S. "Jim" Brigham Jr.

August 12, 1934 – November 29, 2012

McEwen Funeral Service-Mint Hill Chapel

Show your support

Add a Memory

Share Obituary

Get Reminders

Services