James M. Winters  1961

Cullum No. 23630-1961 | May 31, 2003 | Died in Honolulu, HI

Cremated.

James Michael Winters was born in Lawrence, MA, the second of four children of Gerald J. and Mary A. Winters. The family moved a short distance away to Andover, MA when Jim was young. He attended school there and was the salutatorian of his class at Punchard High School. Although schools in the Ivy League and Notre Dame had accepted Jim’s application for admission, he chose to attend West Point and entered the Academy with the Class of 1961.

Jim brought warmth, a sly sense of humor and a distinctively Bostonian accent to our class. We knew that Jim was well qualified academically and also that he was an excellent swimmer. (Later we learned that Jim, when stationed in Hawaii, would swim considerably long distances in the Pacific.) What we did not know was that he was an artist and had declined a full scholarship to the Boston Museum School of Fine Arts to become a plebe with the rest of us. Jim was one of the youngest men in the class, and he had to grow up on the run like many of us did. Jim dated often and set-up many of his classmates with the girlfriends of his own dates! He was likely a Mrs. Holland favorite. As an upperclassman, Jim enjoyed trips to New York City, where he would attend a variety of rock-and-roll concerts and shows. He particularly enjoyed Alan Freed’s “Rock-and-Roll Party,” a popular show of the 1950s based in Manhattan.

Jim often talked of going Ranger and Airborne upon graduation, and that was exactly what he did. For his first assignment, and one of his choosing, Jim went to Korea and joined the First Cavalry Division. Upon returning from Korea in 1963, his next duty station was Fort Bliss, TX. From 1964 to 1966, Jim would perform a variety of duties at Bliss, as well as attending the Air Defense School here. Jim served in Vietnam from 1967 to 1968, earning a Bronze Star and two Air Medals. After his return from Vietnam, Jim became seriously ill and was hospitalized for six months. Years later, Jim earned his MS in social work and psychology, which had long been his goal.

In 1972, while he was stationed in Germany, Jim was afforded the opportunity to counsel U.S. soldiers there who were suffering from a variety of psychological illnesses. His ability to listen intently and non-judgmentally and his compassionate nature and desire to “heal” were recognized and appreciated immediately.

Jim’s military career was his number one priority; however, his early interest in art was rekindled when he visited many museums and art galleries. Stateside, he gained an appreciation for American arts and crafts as well. At Fort Leavenworth, KS in 1972, while attending the Command and General Staff College, Jim lived across the river in Missouri. Here he would discover many “treasures,” especially antique farm implements and tools of the region that, when displayed in his home, made for great conversation.

From 1976 to 1978, Jim was the PMS at Gonzaga University in Spokane, WA. When time allowed, he would hike along the nearby Spokane River. He also enjoyed visiting the city’s many parks and trails and its beautiful Peugeot Sound. His next assignment, at Fort Knox, KY, was as the CO of a training battalion. He was assigned to the Pentagon soon after, and in 1983 he attended the Army War College in Carlisle, PA.

After graduation from the War College, Colonel Winters was assigned to the United States Pacific Command at Camp H.M. Smith, HI. This assignment afforded him, in an official capacity, the opportunity to counsel and support Army units based in Hawaii, Truk Lagoon, and Saipan, where there was a U.S. military presence. At his retirement in 1988, Jim was awarded the Legion of Merit. He remained in Hawaii and continued to serve the needs of the community and those of the indigent Hawaiians as a therapist in the Community Mental Health Center. In September 1992, Jim joined other civilian groups that descended upon the Kauai as “First Responders” when Hurricane Iniki ravaged the island and incurred three billion dollars in damages. Here he would provide much needed help to its traumatized residents. He was involved here for months in this humanitarian endeavor.

Jim’s Catholic faith was a great source of strength in times of disaster and throughout his life. While on active duty and as a retiree, Jim served for 20 years as a Eucharist minister at Tripler Army Hospital. He would also become a “godfather” to many children of both his classmates and other close friends. Jim always remembered these children on special occasions, often with a gift he created. During his time in Oahu, and especially after he retired, Jim devoted his time to the perfection of his craft as a potter. Many of his works were appreciated for their beauty and simplicity, while others were recognized for the complexity of the work and its message. He also served as a teacher to those who had newly discovered their own artistic talent and looked for his guidance. This would prove to be one of the happiest times of his life. He received praise for his work and was highly regarded by the art community. His art was exhibited in several one-man shows. He continued to work at his craft until he died on May 31, 2003 as a result of Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

Jim is deeply missed by those of us who knew him. He exemplified the very best of the men of the United States Military Academy. May he Rest in Peace.

— John Fischer, Geraldine Anderson, and Judith Kremer