Tinsley, James Walter, Jr.

The first born and the eldest of four chidren of James Walter and Eula Ellen (Ellis) Tinsley was born on June 29, 1924 in Dallas, Dallas County, Texas. He was 17 when he joined the United States Navy on June 25, 1941, five months before the attack on Pearl Har-bor. The family was living in East Dallas on Peak Street at the time.

James, who was known by all as “Jr.”, had decided that he wanted a career in the Navy and was especially interested in flying. He took his training in San Diego, California and was appointed Aviation Machinist Mate Third Class on September 1, 1942. He was assigned to Carrier Aircraft Service Unit # 5 Bombing Squadron Two. He served on the U.S.S. Lexington, known as the Queen of Flat Tops. While on this assignment and after the United States entered the war, he saw action in the South Pacific. During the Battle of the Coral Sea, the Lexington took a direct Japanese torpedo hit which ultimately sank the ship. The Captain gave the order to abandon ship. James was among the survivors of this disaster. After a short leave home, July 21, 1942 James was reassigned to Carrier Aircraft Service Unit Five and as-signed to Torpedo Squadron Eleven. Al-though having been involved in severe fighting, James wrote letters home assuring the family that the United States Military would prevail, and that he was proud to be a part of the Navy, and serving his country.

Tragedy struck on the morning of May 21, 1943 when James was the third member of a crew who left from an air base on Guadalcanal. Their destination was the Buin-Tonelei area. Their target was the shipping lane for Japanese military supplies. The original mission included four Navy bombers, each with a three-man crew. Due to bad visibility the strike was called off and the planes were ordered to return. It is unknown whether the bomber that James was in had lost radio contact or was already lost when the order was given to return. In any event the other planes returned to base and James’ plane was reported missing. For days the area was searched with no trace being found of the missing bomber or the crew. The pilot of this ill-fated crew was Harry Thomas Brown of Borger, Texas and the other crew-member was Joe Lewis Harper of Great Falls, Mon-tana.

The Navy contacted James Sr. with the news that his son was missing in action and that he would be contacted when there was further news. He was carried as an MIA for the duration of the war. Inquiries made by the members of the family brought no further information and on the 4th day of January 1946 the Navy, having searched all prisoner of war records and other listings, officially declared James Walter Tinsley Jr. deceased.

James was only nineteen years old at the time of his death and he had given the ultimate sacrifice for his country. He was a son, a brother, a grandson, a nephew and an un-cle. He was loved and mourned by all.

For his service in the Battle of the Coral Sea, James was awarded a Presidential Citation; he also was posthumously awarded the American Defense Service Medal, World War Two Victory Medal and the Purple Heart.