James W. Kirk, "Jim" was born November 8, 1929 and died March 23, 2021 at his home in Lake Sam Rayburn Estates, near Pineland, Texas. His daughter Deborah Newman and his granddaughter Brandi Rose, who he dearly loved, were at his side when he died.

Jim served in the US Army during the Korean War and fought bravely until captured and held as a prisoner of war for over three years in North Korea and China prison camps.

He and a few other prisoners secretly maintained a list of the names and serial numbers of the 461 American prisoners of war who mostly died from freezing and starvation, while 104 were shot. When Jim was released, he smuggled the list out of the North Korea to the Army Command. These 461 American soldiers were removed from "missing in action" status which allowed the payment of military benefits to their families. Jim was honorably discharged from the Army in 1954 and later became a Life Member in the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 10351 in Hemphill, Texas. After a career in Jefferson County as an auto body repair technician, he retired with his wife in his home on the edge of Sam Rayburn Reservoir.

May he rest in peace for eternity.

Jim was preceded in death by his wife Nethal.