JAMES GABRIEL "Jim" McCormick
Jim was born on May 29, 1931 in Rutherford, NJ, the fifth child of Frank Peter and Loretta Anne (Mansfield) McCormick. He died on September 16, 2018 in San Diego County, CA. He attended St. Mary's Schools in Rutherford and in 1952 graduated from St. Peter's College in Jersey City, NJ.
In December 1952, Jim was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps as an Infantry Officer. His first assignment was at Camp Lejeune, NC. In 1958 he was stationed at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, CA, as CO of a recruit company. He arrived in Okinawa in January 1960 serving with the Reconnaissance Marine Unit, predecessor of the Navy SEALs. While Inspector Instructor of the Reserve Unit in Albuquerque, NM, he completed Jump School at Fort Benning, GA. Following duty at Quantico, VA, Jim served at Headquarters Marine Corps with the Supply Group. From 1968 to 1969 he served in Vietnam and received the Bronze Star Medal V during his service at DaNang during the Tet Offensive. He returned to Camp LeJeune for duty with the 8th Marines 2nd Battalion and toured with the Marines defending perimeter lines at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. From there he attended Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, CA and completed a tour at the Supply Depot, Barstow, CA. From there he returned to training recruits as marksmen at the Weapons Training Command, Camp Pendleton, where he reported to the Commanding General, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego. He returned to Okinawa for a second tour as CO of the Force and Service Unit that commanded the island. Subsequently, he was Camp Commander at Camp H. M. Smith, Aiea, HI. In 1981 he returned to Camp Pendleton. In July 1983 he retired as Colonel in the United States Marine Corps to Tranquility in Fallbrook, CA.
Jim met his wife of 63 years, Frances Printz, also a Marine, at Camp Lejeune. On May 14, 1955, they were united in marriage at St. Mary's Church in Rutherford, NJ, which is commemorated by their personalized license plate, 14MAY55.
Jim is survived by his wife Frances, six children, Sharon Carter (Richard), Valdosta, GA, James McCormick (Kaye), Overland Park, KS, Elizabeth Dean, Hope, ID, Mark McCormick, Sandpoint, ID, Susan McCormick, Bolingbrook, IL, and Jeffrey McCormick (Carrie), Everett, WA, along with 9 grandchildren, and seven great grandchildren. Jim is preceded in death by son-in-law Joe Dean and grandson James Carter, III.
Services were held on September 26, 2018 at St. Peter's Catholic Church in Fallbrook, CA with burial at Miramar National Cemetery.
In Lieu of flowers, donations may be made in James Gabriel McCormick's memory to the Saint Peter's Scholarship Fund either online at:
www.saintpeters.edu/giving or by mailing a check to:  Saint Peter's University, Office of Advancement, 2641 John F. Kennedy Blvd., Jersey City, NJ 07306.