Maj. James M. Brophy, 36, was among five Marines who died in a military plane crash off Japan’s southern coast on December 6, 2018.
James Brophy, a KC-130J pilot and a decorated, twice-deployed combat veteran was born in Poughkeepsie, New York in 1982. He grew up in Hyde Park, graduated in 2001 before attending the University of Rhode Island and earning his bachelor’s in Civil Engineering in 2005. He attended Officer Candidate School (OCS) in the summer of 2005 and was commissioned into the Marine Corps. In April of 2009, James earned his gold wings and the title of Naval Aviator in Corpus Christi, Texas. He spent much of his Marine Corps career in North Carolina as a pilot for VMGR-252, then an instructor at the KC-130J Fleet Replacement Detachment (FRD). He then attended the Command and Staff College in Quantico, Virginia, graduating with a Master of Military Studies, before receiving orders that brought him and his family to Iwakuni, Japan in the summer of 2018.
He left his 4-year-old son, and 1-year-old daughter. There was never any doubt how much James loved his family. It didn’t matter what time James came home from work, he had time and energy to be the fun dad and the loving husband he was. It wasn’t uncommon to see him pulling his young children through the neighborhood in their wagon early on a Sunday morning or playing soccer with his son in front of their home until the sun went down.
James was adventurous, humble, caring, and he always had a smile on his face — one that his family, friends, and colleagues couldn’t help but mirror when they were around him. He simply was the BEST husband, father, uncle, son, and brother. We miss him so very much every day and I want to ensure his children don’t forget the great HERO he was.
His decorations include the Air Medal with two Strike Flight Awards, one Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, and one Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal.
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