Kansas National Guard Hall of Fame

Colonel James E. Fox was born on 15 July 1934 in Hamilton, Ohio. His military career began on 6 March 1953 when he enlisted in the United States Army where he saw duty in Korea. He joined the Kansas Army National Guard, serving in Company B, 174th Military Police Battalion on 1 November 1956. He then attended the Kansas National Guard Officer Candidate School and was commissioned Second Lieutenant, Infantry on 21 November 1961. He was initially assigned as Platoon Leader with Company C, 2nd Battle Group, 137th Infantry. He was later transferred to the 1120th Transportation Company. In 1964, COL Fox attended the Army Aviators Course to become Fixed Wing qualified. The following year, he became qualified in Rotary Wing Aircraft. This paved the way for his assignment as Platoon Leader with the 137th Transportation Company. He then transferred to Company D, 169th Support Battalion in charge of the Aircraft Maintenance Platoon. On 13 May 1968, COL Fox was mobilized with the 69th Infantry Brigade during the Vietnam conflict. The following December, he was assigned to the 34th Group USARV in Vietnam with the 58th Transportation Battalion where he served as Aircraft Maintenance and Operations Officer.

Released from active duty in December 1970, he was reassigned to Company D, 169th Support Battalion, then to the Headquarters Detachment as Intelligence Officer. COL Fox became a full time technician for the 169th and later became the Battalion Operations Officer and Executive Officer, culminating as Battalion Commander in September 1976. In December 1977 he was reassigned as Executive Officer and Deputy Brigade Commander of the 69th Infantry Brigade. In July 1981, he was reassigned to Headquarters Detachment of the Kansas Army National Guard as assistant Chief of Staff, Plans, Operations and Training. In October 1986, COL Fox was assigned as Chief of Staff of the Kansas Army National Guard and served in this position until his retirement on 15 July 1989. COL Fox finished his career with over 36 years of Military Service.





			COL JAMES E. FOX
	Colonel James E. Fox was born on 15 July 1934 in Hamilton, Ohio. His military career began on 6 March 1953 when he enlisted in the United States Army where he saw duty in Korea. He joined the Kansas Army National Guard, serving in Company B, 174th Military Police Battalion on 1 November 1956. He then attended the Kansas National Guard Officer Candidate School and was commissioned Second Lieutenant, Infantry on 21 November 1961. He was initially assigned as Platoon Leader with Company C, 2nd Battle Group, 137th Infantry. He was later transferred to the 1120th Transportation Company. In 1964, COL Fox attended the Army Aviators Course to become Fixed Wing qualified. The following year, he became qualified in Rotary Wing Aircraft. This paved the way for his assignment as Platoon Leader with the 137th Transportation Company. He then transferred to Company D, 169th Support Battalion in charge of the Aircraft Maintenance Platoon. On 13 May 1968, COL Fox was mobilized with the 69th Infantry Brigade during the Vietnam conflict. The following December, he was assigned to the 34th Group USARV in Vietnam with the 58th Transportation Battalion where he served as Aircraft Maintenance and Operations Officer. Released from active duty in December 1970, he was reassigned to Company D, 169th Support Battalion, then to the Headquarters Detachment as Intelligence Officer. COL Fox became a full time technician for the 169th and later became the Battalion Operations Officer and Executive Officer, culminating as Battalion Commander in September 1976. In December 1977 he was reassigned as Executive Officer and Deputy Brigade Commander of the 69th Infantry Brigade. In July 1981, he was reassigned to Headquarters Detachment of the Kansas Army National Guard as assistant Chief of Staff, Plans, Operations and Training. In October 1986, COL Fox was assigned as Chief of Staff of the Kansas Army National Guard and served in this position until his retirement on 15 July 1989. COL Fox finished his career with over 36 years of Military Service. COL Fox possessed a commitment to service that extended beyond his military assignments to include Past President of the Association of the United States Army (Topeka Chapter), Past President of the National Guard Association of Kansas and life member of the National Guard Association of the United States. Member of the 35th Infantry Division Association, American Legion Post #1, Past President of the American Society of Industrial Security, Member of Crime Research of Topeka, The Topeka Chamber of Commerce and Fundraising Chairman of the Children’s Crime Victim Fund. Undeniably, Colonel Fox is one of the best known and well-respected Kansas National Guard officers of his era. He leaves a legacy of excellent standards of performance and dedication to service. A true American Patriot. His awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster, Air Medal, 7th Award, Army Commendation Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters, National Defense Service Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster, Korean Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with four Campaign Stars, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with two Hourglass Devices, United Nations Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal with 60 Device, Army Service Ribbon, Kansas National Guard Service Ribbon Kansas Emergency Duty Ribbon, Master Army Aviator Badge and three Overseas Bars. He was inducted into the Kansas National Guard Hall of Fame, 1 November 1998.