THE WALL OF FACES

Jim worked with me in G division on the USS Oriskany.
I see his face every night. He just wanted to go home and see his baby boy.

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. I am 73 and have lived a long and fulfilling life. It is tragic you never had that same opportunity. May you rest in eternal peace.

Hello everyone, I’m Donna…Jimmy Dolan is my uncle, his sister Kathleen Dolan is my mom. I just saw all the beautiful messages for him. I’m so touched! Thank you all for the kind words and love! Uncle Jimmy is somewhere smiling…and SONNY I remember you! Uncle Jimmy lived with us on N. 15th St, in Bloomfield. I think you used to come there!! My mom spoke about you over the years, your picture brought back memories! Thank you… I will email you!

Jim Dolan and I as young boys lived in the rough, problematic Archbishop Walsh Housing projects in North Newark, New Jersey. Instinctively, our means of coping was to embark on plenty of exciting, unique explorations of our surroundings that Newark would provide. Along the way, as we grew up, we gradually gained more confidence and grew stronger. He was a quiet, intelligent, friendly kid who had a natural, internal strength that I admired. Although Jim was not tall, he often was called Big Jim because he was a very tough and fearless fighter who never started a fight. When Jim and I were 18 years old, the Vietnam War was in a full, raging frenzy. Since Jim, my brother John and I were classified as 1-A by the Draft Board, we went to the recruitment station in The Federal Building, downtown Newark. The Navy recruiter “guaranteed” we would remain together in the “buddy system” throughout boot camp. So it was anchors aweigh on April 28, 1969. Immediately, upon our arrival, the three of us were separated into different companies, despite my feeble protests. I felt cheated that the US Navy reneged on our “buddy system” agreement. Ten weeks dragged by before Jim and I got together on a one-day “liberty” pass. In Chicago, we got so drunk that I nearly had to carry Jim back to his barracks. When I got back to my barracks, I was overwhelmed uncontrollably crying because deep inside I knew I would never see Jim again. When Jim completed boot camp, he was assigned aboard the USS Oriskany and headed for the coast of Vietnam. There onboard, Jim was charged with non-compliance with minor Navy regulations and remanded to the brig. Soon afterward, I received information that Jim was being escorted on deck and somehow went overboard! The ship was traveling too fast to turn around in time to save him. Jim never was recovered!

Seaman Recruit Jimmy Michael Dolan, Served aboard the USS Oriskany, Task Force 77.6 (TF-77.6), Task Force 77 (TF-77), 7th Fleet.