Rightley, James Alva
Former German POW and Albuquerque native James Alva Rightley passed away peacefully on Monday, August 25, with his wife at his side. He was 95.
He was predeceased by his two sons, Ronald and Damon Rightley, mother Mary Sullivant Rightley, father Alva Edward Rightley and brother Edward C. Rightley.
James was born on March 18, 1920, and lived in Madrid, New Mexico until he was 3 at which time his father was killed in a coal mining accident in Madrid. James, Edward and their mother then returned to Albuquerque where both boys grew up, graduating from "old" Albuquerque High School in 1938 and 1939.
James is survived by his wife of 59 years, Patsy Rightley; daughter Candy Moore (husband Tom Moore) and son Keith Rightley. He is also survived by his beloved 11 grandchildren; 19 great- grandchildren; one great-great- grandchild; and many nieces and nephews. He was deeply loved and admired by all who knew him. He shared a brilliant sense of humor, gentle kindness and a kinship with the angels.
James worked at the Albuquerque Little Theater during high school and after WWII during college. He was a member of the National Guard, Co. "D", 120th Engineers from 1937 - 1940. He began his federal service at Ft. Sill, Oklahoma, completed OCS in 1942 as a 2nd Lieutenant and eventually completed the Parachute School Jump Course in Fort Benning, GA, after which he was shipped overseas to North Africa as a 1st Lieutenant with the Army 307th Airborne Engineer Battalion of the 82nd Airborne Division, Co. "B". He engaged in several skirmishes and battles and made at least 4 combat jumps. The jumps were in Sicily, Naples, Foggia and Normandy where he participated in Operation Neptune (part of Operation Overlord). He was shot and captured by the Germans within 2 days of his drop into Normandy. He spent 9 months at OFLAG 64 at Szubin, Poland, until January 1945 at which time he effected a successful escape. He walked across much of war-torn Poland led from village to village by the men from each particular village, housed and fed each night by someone in each village, sleeping in barns, attics and homes. During his life he never forgot the Polish citizens and credited them with his life. He eventually made his way to Odessa, Poland, where he met up with Allied troops and was shipped back to the US. He left active duty in 1946.
For his service, James was promoted to Captain after his escape and throughout his overseas time was awarded a Purple Heart, Distinguished Unit Badge (he was the Unit Commander - 1339), American Theater Service Medal, European African Middle Eastern Service Medal with 3 Bronze Stars and 1 Bronze Arrowhead and the World War II Victory Medal. He was discharged in 1946 after almost 2 years overseas and 2 more years in the US.
Services for James will be held on Friday, September 11, 9:30 am, at Grace Church, 6901 San Antonio Dr., Albuquerque, NM, 87109, (corner of Louisiana and San Antonio) followed by interment at Santa Fe National Cemetery at 1:30 pm. We will miss this man beyond words.
Former German POW and Albuquerque native James Alva Rightley passed away peacefully on Monday, August 25, with his wife at his side. He was 95.
He was predeceased by his two sons, Ronald and Damon Rightley, mother Mary Sullivant Rightley, father Alva Edward Rightley and brother Edward C. Rightley.
James was born on March 18, 1920, and lived in Madrid, New Mexico until he was 3 at which time his father was killed in a coal mining accident in Madrid. James, Edward and their mother then returned to Albuquerque where both boys grew up, graduating from "old" Albuquerque High School in 1938 and 1939.
James is survived by his wife of 59 years, Patsy Rightley; daughter Candy Moore (husband Tom Moore) and son Keith Rightley. He is also survived by his beloved 11 grandchildren; 19 great- grandchildren; one great-great- grandchild; and many nieces and nephews. He was deeply loved and admired by all who knew him. He shared a brilliant sense of humor, gentle kindness and a kinship with the angels.
James worked at the Albuquerque Little Theater during high school and after WWII during college. He was a member of the National Guard, Co. "D", 120th Engineers from 1937 - 1940. He began his federal service at Ft. Sill, Oklahoma, completed OCS in 1942 as a 2nd Lieutenant and eventually completed the Parachute School Jump Course in Fort Benning, GA, after which he was shipped overseas to North Africa as a 1st Lieutenant with the Army 307th Airborne Engineer Battalion of the 82nd Airborne Division, Co. "B". He engaged in several skirmishes and battles and made at least 4 combat jumps. The jumps were in Sicily, Naples, Foggia and Normandy where he participated in Operation Neptune (part of Operation Overlord). He was shot and captured by the Germans within 2 days of his drop into Normandy. He spent 9 months at OFLAG 64 at Szubin, Poland, until January 1945 at which time he effected a successful escape. He walked across much of war-torn Poland led from village to village by the men from each particular village, housed and fed each night by someone in each village, sleeping in barns, attics and homes. During his life he never forgot the Polish citizens and credited them with his life. He eventually made his way to Odessa, Poland, where he met up with Allied troops and was shipped back to the US. He left active duty in 1946.
For his service, James was promoted to Captain after his escape and throughout his overseas time was awarded a Purple Heart, Distinguished Unit Badge (he was the Unit Commander - 1339), American Theater Service Medal, European African Middle Eastern Service Medal with 3 Bronze Stars and 1 Bronze Arrowhead and the World War II Victory Medal. He was discharged in 1946 after almost 2 years overseas and 2 more years in the US.
Services for James will be held on Friday, September 11, 9:30 am, at Grace Church, 6901 San Antonio Dr., Albuquerque, NM, 87109, (corner of Louisiana and San Antonio) followed by interment at Santa Fe National Cemetery at 1:30 pm. We will miss this man beyond words.
Rightley, James Alva
Former German POW and Albuquerque native James Alva Rightley passed away peacefully on Monday, August 25, with his wife at his side. He was 95.
He was predeceased by his two sons, Ronald and Damon Rightley, mother Mary Sullivant Rightley, father Alva Edward Rightley and brother Edward C. Rightley.
James was born on March 18, 1920, and lived in Madrid, New Mexico until he was 3 at which time his father was killed in a coal mining accident in Madrid. James, Edward and their mother then returned to Albuquerque where both boys grew up, graduating from "old" Albuquerque High School in 1938 and 1939.
James is survived by his wife of 59 years, Patsy Rightley; daughter Candy Moore (husband Tom Moore) and son Keith Rightley. He is also survived by his beloved 11 grandchildren; 19 great- grandchildren; one great-great- grandchild; and many nieces and nephews. He was deeply loved and admired by all who knew him. He shared a brilliant sense of humor, gentle kindness and a kinship with the angels.
James worked at the Albuquerque Little Theater during high school and after WWII during college. He was a member of the National Guard, Co. "D", 120th Engineers from 1937 - 1940. He began his federal service at Ft. Sill, Oklahoma, completed OCS in 1942 as a 2nd Lieutenant and eventually completed the Parachute School Jump Course in Fort Benning, GA, after which he was shipped overseas to North Africa as a 1st Lieutenant with the Army 307th Airborne Engineer Battalion of the 82nd Airborne Division, Co. "B". He engaged in several skirmishes and battles and made at least 4 combat jumps. The jumps were in Sicily, Naples, Foggia and Normandy where he participated in Operation Neptune (part of Operation Overlord). He was shot and captured by the Germans within 2 days of his drop into Normandy. He spent 9 months at OFLAG 64 at Szubin, Poland, until January 1945 at which time he effected a successful escape. He walked across much of war-torn Poland led from village to village by the men from each particular village, housed and fed each night by someone in each village, sleeping in barns, attics and homes. During his life he never forgot the Polish citizens and credited them with his life. He eventually made his way to Odessa, Poland, where he met up with Allied troops and was shipped back to the US. He left active duty in 1946.
For his service, James was promoted to Captain after his escape and throughout his overseas time was awarded a Purple Heart, Distinguished Unit Badge (he was the Unit Commander - 1339), American Theater Service Medal, European African Middle Eastern Service Medal with 3 Bronze Stars and 1 Bronze Arrowhead and the World War II Victory Medal. He was discharged in 1946 after almost 2 years overseas and 2 more years in the US.
Services for James will be held on Friday, September 11, 9:30 am, at Grace Church, 6901 San Antonio Dr., Albuquerque, NM, 87109, (corner of Louisiana and San Antonio) followed by interment at Santa Fe National Cemetery at 1:30 pm. We will miss this man beyond words.
Former German POW and Albuquerque native James Alva Rightley passed away peacefully on Monday, August 25, with his wife at his side. He was 95.
He was predeceased by his two sons, Ronald and Damon Rightley, mother Mary Sullivant Rightley, father Alva Edward Rightley and brother Edward C. Rightley.
James was born on March 18, 1920, and lived in Madrid, New Mexico until he was 3 at which time his father was killed in a coal mining accident in Madrid. James, Edward and their mother then returned to Albuquerque where both boys grew up, graduating from "old" Albuquerque High School in 1938 and 1939.
James is survived by his wife of 59 years, Patsy Rightley; daughter Candy Moore (husband Tom Moore) and son Keith Rightley. He is also survived by his beloved 11 grandchildren; 19 great- grandchildren; one great-great- grandchild; and many nieces and nephews. He was deeply loved and admired by all who knew him. He shared a brilliant sense of humor, gentle kindness and a kinship with the angels.
James worked at the Albuquerque Little Theater during high school and after WWII during college. He was a member of the National Guard, Co. "D", 120th Engineers from 1937 - 1940. He began his federal service at Ft. Sill, Oklahoma, completed OCS in 1942 as a 2nd Lieutenant and eventually completed the Parachute School Jump Course in Fort Benning, GA, after which he was shipped overseas to North Africa as a 1st Lieutenant with the Army 307th Airborne Engineer Battalion of the 82nd Airborne Division, Co. "B". He engaged in several skirmishes and battles and made at least 4 combat jumps. The jumps were in Sicily, Naples, Foggia and Normandy where he participated in Operation Neptune (part of Operation Overlord). He was shot and captured by the Germans within 2 days of his drop into Normandy. He spent 9 months at OFLAG 64 at Szubin, Poland, until January 1945 at which time he effected a successful escape. He walked across much of war-torn Poland led from village to village by the men from each particular village, housed and fed each night by someone in each village, sleeping in barns, attics and homes. During his life he never forgot the Polish citizens and credited them with his life. He eventually made his way to Odessa, Poland, where he met up with Allied troops and was shipped back to the US. He left active duty in 1946.
For his service, James was promoted to Captain after his escape and throughout his overseas time was awarded a Purple Heart, Distinguished Unit Badge (he was the Unit Commander - 1339), American Theater Service Medal, European African Middle Eastern Service Medal with 3 Bronze Stars and 1 Bronze Arrowhead and the World War II Victory Medal. He was discharged in 1946 after almost 2 years overseas and 2 more years in the US.
Services for James will be held on Friday, September 11, 9:30 am, at Grace Church, 6901 San Antonio Dr., Albuquerque, NM, 87109, (corner of Louisiana and San Antonio) followed by interment at Santa Fe National Cemetery at 1:30 pm. We will miss this man beyond words.
