James W. Downing facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
James W. Downing
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|
|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | Jim |
| Born | August 22, 1913 Oak Grove, Jackson County, Missouri, United States |
| Died | February 13, 2018 (aged 104) Colorado Springs, Colorado, United States |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Service/ |
United States Navy |
| Years of service | 1932–1956 |
| Rank |  Lieutenant |
| Commands held | USS Patapsco (AOG-1) |
| Battles/wars | |
| Spouse(s) |
Morena Holmes
(m. 1941; died 2010) |
| Children | 7 |
| Other work |
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James Willis Downing (1913–2018) was a brave officer in the United States Navy. He served for 24 years, retiring in 1956. He even commanded a ship called the USS Patapsco. When he passed away, he was one of the oldest survivors of the Attack on Pearl Harbor. He also wrote a book about his experiences.
Contents
James Downing was born in Oak Grove, Missouri. After high school, it was hard to find jobs. This was because of the Great Depression, a time when many people were out of work. So, in 1932, he joined the Navy.
He started serving at the Long Beach Naval Shipyard in California. This was a big port for many Navy ships. He became a gunner's mate and a postmaster. He worked on the battleship USS West Virginia.
The Attack on Pearl Harbor
On December 7, 1941, James Downing was in Honolulu. He was staying with his shipmates. Suddenly, the radio announced an attack on Naval Station Pearl Harbor. All the sailors quickly rushed to the port.
When Downing got to the West Virginia, Japanese planes had already attacked it. The ship was hit by nine torpedoes. It was in shallow water, so it didn't completely sink. But its deck was on fire. Downing helped the injured crew members. He used a water hose from another ship, the USS Tennessee. This helped stop the ammunition on his ship from exploding.
Downing also tried to remember the names of those who died. He visited the injured sailors in the hospital. He wrote down their names and messages for their families. Since he was the postmaster, he knew their home addresses. He later wrote letters to each family. He explained what happened to their loved ones.
After Pearl Harbor, Downing continued his Navy career. He became an adviser to the Brazilian fleet in Rio de Janeiro. He served on a ship called the USS Nespelen. He also taught Naval Science at Kings Point.
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Later, he became the commanding officer of the USS Patapsco. This ship helped supply other ships during the Korean War. Downing also took on the role of ship chaplain. In 1954, he and his crew were exposed to radiation. This happened during Castle Bravo, a nuclear test. He retired from the Navy in 1956.
Before the Pearl Harbor attack, Downing became friends with Dawson Trotman. Trotman was a Christian minister. He later started an organization called The Navigators. This group helps people learn about faith.
Trotman passed away the same year Downing retired from the Navy. The Downings then moved to Colorado Springs, Colorado. James Downing became a leader at The Navigators. He helped lead their work in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. He retired from this full-time role in 1983.
Personal Life and Family
Dawson Trotman encouraged James Downing to meet Morena Mae Holmes. She was from Arkansas and had just finished college. James and Morena got married in July 1941 in Honolulu.
On Christmas Day 1941, Morena went back to the mainland United States. She didn't see her husband again until 1943. They had seven children together. Morena passed away in 2010 at age 93. James Downing lived to be 104 years old. He passed away in 2018.
Becoming an Author
In 2016, James Downing wrote a book about his life. It was called The Other Side of Infamy: My Journey through Pearl Harbor and the World of War. The book talks about his time in the military. It also shares how people use their faith during difficult times.
He was 102 years old when his book was accepted for publishing. This earned him a special honor from Guinness World Records. He was named the "oldest male author." When he passed away at 104, his title changed to "oldest author ever."
