James William Hunley

James William Hunley (Jan. 28, 1948 – Aug. 15, 1967) was a Marine from Campbell County killed in the Vietnam War.

See Also: Scott Countians killed in war

Biography

Born Jan. 28, 1948 in Caryville, Tenn., James William Hunley — known to family and friends as “J-Will” — was the son of Warren L. Hunley (1921-2012) and Hazel Edna Ledford (born about 1925). His siblings included David Hunley, Tim Hunley, Lucille Martin and Vickie Henry. His father was a veteran of World War II.

The Hunley family moved to Dayton, Oh. during J-Will’s childhood, and that is where he joined the service.

He married Patrice L. Hunley.

Vietnam War

PFC Hunley enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps on Feb. 1, 1967 at a recruiting office in Cincinnati, Oh. He graduated from San Diego Marine Corps Recruit Depot on April 7, 1967.

In Vietnam, he was assigned to Golf Co., 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division. He was on patrol with his regiment during Operation Fremont in the Thua Thien province of South Vietnam, and serving as point man when he detonated a booby-trapped 105mm round along the trail. He died on Aug. 15, 1967.

Aftermath

PFC Hunley’s body was returned to the U.S., and he was buried at Hazel Valley Memorial Cemetery in Oneida. He received the Purple Heart award.

His father returned to Campbell County, and died in 2012 in Jacksboro. He’s buried at Harness Cemetery in Caryville.

PFC Hunley is listed on the VFW Post 5669 Memorial Wall in Oneida and the Scott County Veterans Memorial in Huntsville, in addition to the East Tennessee Veterans Memorial in Knoxville and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. However, it’s not clear what his tie to Scott County was, besides being buried at Hazel Valley. He did not ever live in Scott County.