Today’s #VeteranOfTheDay is Army Veteran Tim James, who joined after an NBA career with the Miami Heat, Charlotte Hornets and Philadelphia 76ers.
Tim James had family connections to the military, his uncle and older brother having served in the Marines. But instead of enlisting right away, he began his professional sports career by playing basketball for Northwestern High School and college basketball for the University of Miami. Following college, James played for three NBA teams: the Miami Heat, the Charlotte Hornets and the Philadelphia 76ers. He also played in many different countries as well, such as Japan, Turkey, Venezuela and Israel.
After his return from abroad, James decided to serve in the military and enlisted in the Army in September 2008. After training at Fort Hood, Texas, he deployed to Iraq the following year. James served at Camp Speicher, a base north of Baghdad. As a specialist, he worked with the Task Force Observe, Detect, Identify and Neutralize, which conducted reconnaissance, surveillance, targeting and acquisition in Baghdad and the surrounding area.
He later served in the 1st Cavalry Division, rising to the rank of corporal. After his tour of duty in Iraq, James returned to Fort Hood and became part of a maintenance crew for heavy duty machinery. He honorably discharged in 2011.
After leaving the military, James became the head basketball coach for the men’s basketball team of Vance-Granville Community College in North Carolina. He then served as a firefighter for the Atlanta Fire Rescue Department in Georgia.
Thank you for your service!
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Thank you for your service Tim James.