Join AFIO Member Login
You are logged in as Logout DONATE
James Donald Blessing, 82, of Atlanta, died Oct. 26, 2024, after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease. Jim was born in Johnson City, Tennessee. He graduated from Bassett High School in Bassett, Virginia, where in 1959 he played for the Virginia state champion basketball team and was selected for Virginia High School All Regional, All District and All State teams. He went on to play at Walker Junior College. He later lived in Texas, California, Japan, Virginia, Maryland, and Atlanta. During the Vietnam build-up in 1966, he joined the Army as he had an opportunity to receive an Army Intelligence slot. He had an ear for languages and learned to speak both Vietnamese and Japanese. He did a one-year tour in Vietnam from 1967-1968 (during the Tet Offensive). He and his family were also stationed in Japan for three years in the 1970s. Jim retired from the Army after 20 years as a Chief Warrant Officer 3 and received the Legion of Merit for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding service. After his military retirement, he continued his career working in national security for several defense organizations, including the MITRE Corporation. While at MITRE, he received multiple awards, including the President’s award, MITRE’s highest honor. He retired from MITRE in 2009.