James D. Locker Locker entered the U.S. Air Force from Sidney, Ohio, after graduating from high school in 1965. After he enlisted, he received training as a para-rescueman and became a member of an Air Rescue and Recovery Squadron. His unit was sent to Vietnam.
On June 9, 1968, he was dispatched on a HH-3E Jolly Green Giant (tail number 67-14710, call sign “Jolly Green 23”) Also aboard were crew members Elmer Holden, Jack Rittichtier, and Richard Yeend. They took off from Da Nang Air Base, South Vietnam, on a search and rescue mission for a downed Marine A-4 pilot in Salavan Province, Laos.
At the rescue site, the aircraft was struck by enemy fire and crashed and exploded. The entire crew including Sgt. Locker were killed in the incident. An active enemy presence prevented searchers from recovering his remains at the time. Joint search teams eventually recovered human remains from the crash site. U.S. analysts identified them as those of Sgt. Locker and recovered them on September 18, 2003.
The remains were returned to Sidney. Although he had been missing in action and presumed dead for 35 years, the community and country had not forgotten. Several thousand people turned out to pay their respects. A service was held on October 18, 2003, at the Sidney First United Methodist Church. Every seat was taken well before the service. The internment was in Glen Cemetery outside Port Jefferson. The road between Sidney and the cemetery was lined with hundreds of people standing at attention and waving American flags as the funeral procession carried Jim Locker to his final resting place. The route through the cemetery was lined by color guard units from all over Ohio. The units represented Vietnam Veterans of America chapters (Chapter 55 included), American Legion Posts, VFW Posts, AMVETS Posts, DAV Posts, POW Posts, Rolling Thunder, Chained Eagles and other veterans’ groups. Approximately 100 color guard units were in attendance. None of those present will ever forget the scene.
Sgt. Locker earned eight Air Medals, the Distinguished Flying Cross, three Purple Hearts, and three Silver Stars. He was also awarded several medals from the Republic of South Vietnam, including the Cross of Gallantry. He was the only USAF para-rescueman to earn three Silver Stars in one tour of Vietnam. He did so in just eleven months.
The motto of the para-rescuemen of the Air Force is a fitting summary of his life: “These things I do so that others may live.”
Jim Locker’s parents, Bob and Dorothy, turned their grief into service for others. His mother poured her heart and soul into Gold Star Mothers activities. That group is composed of mothers who had lost a son in service to their country. Mrs. Locker participated in every Memorial Day service and veterans’ service in November each year. She was president of the Ohio chapter of Gold Star Mothers.
Sgt. James Locker was posthumously inducted into the Sidney High School Hall of Honor in 2004.