Note: This message was originally sent on November 12, 2019
In honor of Veterans Day…
Lieutenant Colonel (LTC) James P. Isenhower, Jr., was an Eagle Scout, who played football and received his pilot’s license at the same time as his driver’s license. He attended the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and graduated in 1969. Commissioned into the infantry, Isenhower attended and graduated from the Army Airborne School, the Infantry Officer Basic Course, the Army Aviation School, the Armor Officer Advanced Course and the Armed Forces Staff College.
Destined to fly, Isenhower was a helicopter pilot in Vietnam. His assignments included mechanized infantry platoon leader, brigade headquarters company commander in the 3rd Infantry Division, rotary wing section leader and chief of plans for the directorate of training management at the Army Aviation Center. He also served in other career military roles, including commander of an aviation company in the 17th Aviation Group and was secretary to the general staff and Brigade S3 in the 1st Infantry Division.
Despite serving in Vietnam during the last two years of the conflict, Isenhower spoke very little about it. During this time he helped transport many Vietnamese out of the country. Later assignments took him throughout Asia, including Laos and Korea as well as Germany and to bases around the United States.
He was getting ready to go back to Germany when he discovered a lump on his neck. That lump proved to be cancer, but even while he was sick, he refused to leave his military career. He stayed three years beyond the initial diagnosis and died in October 1985 at the age of 39. His military career ended at the rank of lieutenant colonel. He earned the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medals (three Oak Leaf clusters) four Air Medals, Army Commendation Medal and Vietnam Service Medal among other awards and decorations. He was also honored posthumously as Fort Stewart, Georgia named a 244-unit housing complex in his honor: Isenhower Terrace.
“Jim Isenhower was a fighter all the way,” said Major General Andrew L. Cooley during the dedication ceremony. “He faced death like he faced life—with courage, dignity and valor.”
The LTC James P. Isenhower, Jr. Memorial Scholarship was established at Gonzaga in 2012 by his daughter, Megan Isenhower (’94). She continued on to law school at Seattle University after receiving her GU degree. She has volunteered with Gonzaga University’s Gonzaga Alumni Mentor Program for over 20 years, including serving as the Seattle GAMP chair. In January 2017, Gonzaga University awarded Megan its Jim Day Alumni Mentor award for her “extraordinary dedication to helping students and alumni achieve professional success.” Megan also has served Gonzaga as a member of the College of Arts and Sciences Dean’s Advisory Board.
So far, four ROTC cadets have benefitted from the LTC James P. Isenhower, Jr. Memorial Scholarship since 2017. As an endowed scholarship, students in the ROTC program at GU will continue to receive aid in memory of LTC James P. Isenhower, Jr. in perpetuity.
We are grateful for the bravery and inspiration of LTC Isenhower, and the thoughtful generosity of his daughter, along with all who have supported the scholarship that bears his name. We are truly honored to carry forth his legacy as we support those committed to serving our nation.