Private James was a medic with the Medical Company, 38th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division. He was seriously wounded by the enemy while tending his wounded comrades in South Korea on 26 May 1951 and died of those wounds on 28 May 1951.

James was awarded the Purple Heart, the Combat Medical Badge, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.