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First Name
James
Middle Name
G.
Last Name
Pirie
Birthdate
Hometown
Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Rank
Captain
Service Branch
Navy
Date Captured
Date Repatriated
Pre Capture Image
PreCapture Description
James Pirie entered the Naval Aviation Cadet Program on July 1, 1955, and was commissioned an Ensign in the U.S. Navy and designated a Naval Aviator in April 1957. His first assignment was at NAS Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, from May 1957 to January 1958, followed by A4D-1 (later redesignated A-4) Skyhawk Replacement Air Group (RAG) training with VA-44 at NAS Jacksonville, Florida, from March to October 1958. Lieutenant Pirie next served as an A-4 pilot with VA-34 at NAS Cecil Field, Florida, from October 1958 to July 1961, during which time the squadron deployed aboard the aircraft carrier USS Essex (CVS-9) in support of the Bay of Pigs Invasion in April 1961. Lieutenant Pirie served at NAS South Weymouth, Massachusetts, from August 1963 to June 1965, and then attended A-4 RAG training with VA-125 at NAS Lemoore, California, from July to December 1965. After serving with VA-94 for a month, from December 1965 to January 1966, Commander Pirie served as an A-4 pilot with VA-93 at NAS Lemoore and deployed to Southeast Asia aboard the aircraft carriers USS Enterprise (CVAN-65) from January to June 1966, and USS Hancock (CVA-19) from January 1967 until he was forced to eject over North Vietnam and was taken as a Prisoner of War on June 22, 1967.
Post Release Image
Post Release Description
Commander Pirie was released during Operation Homecoming on February 18, 1973. He was briefly hospitalized to recover from his injuries at the Naval Hospital in Oakland, California, and then served with the Naval Reserve Command in Birmingham, Alabama, from August 1973 to December 1976. His next assignment was as Executive Officer with the Naval Air Reserve Unit at NAS Whidbey Island, Washington, from December 1976 to June 1978, followed by service as Director of Flight Programs on the Staff of the Chief of the Naval Reserve from August 1978 to April 1980. Captain Pirie served as the Commanding Officer of Naval Air Facility Washington, D.C., from May 1980 to June 1982, and then served as a Deputy with the Commander of the Naval Air Reserve Force from July 1982 until his retirement from the Navy on November 1, 1984. Jim Pirie died on May 9, 1998, and he was buried at the Cedar Hill Cemetery in Bessemer, Alabama.
Honors, Citations, and Commendations
- Silver Star (2)
- Legion of Merit (2)
- Distinguished Flying Cross (2)
- Bronze Star
- Prisoner of War Medal
Passed away before release
Post Release