Senator Liu inducts College Point resident, James Black, into New York State Senate Veterans Hall of Fame

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Monday, May 30, 2022
Contact: Soojin Choi | press@johnliusenate.com | 347-556-6335 

SENATOR LIU INDUCTS COLLEGE POINT RESIDENT, JAMES BLACK, INTO NEW YORK STATE SENATE VETERANS HALL OF FAME

College Point, NY - NYS Senator John Liu inducted College Point veteran James (Jim) Black into the New York State Senate Veterans Hall of Fame on May, 29th, 2022. The Hall of Fame was established in 2005 to honor and recognize outstanding veterans from the Empire State who have distinguished themselves in both military and civilian life.

Senator John Liu said, “James Black answered our nation’s call and pledged himself to defend our lives at home and our values abroad. We are eternally grateful for his dedicated service, which continues to this day with his involvement in our community and as Commander of the College Point Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 885. On this Memorial Day, I’m proud to induct him into the NYS Senate’s Veterans Hall of Fame. We owe him our deepest gratitude and respect.”

James Black said, “Being inducted into the New York State Senate Veterans Hall of Fame is a great privilege and an honor. I’d like to thank Senator Liu for this recognition, and especially all the service men and women of the military who I had the privilege to serve alongside, and those who continue to serve today.”

James Black was drafted into the United States Army in 1970. He achieved the rank of Field Artillery Specialist 4 (SP4) and received an Honorable Discharge in 1972.

Mr. Black grew up in College Point, Queens, the middle child of eight brothers and sisters. He attended St. Fidelis Grammar School and Thomas Edison High School. During his teenage years, he played drums in a band of four with his fellow high school friends. They would play at local and surrounding community events and school dances, in addition to a few summers in upstate New York, at various Catskill Mountain resorts.

After high school, he had planned on starting a career as a long haul truck driver, but he started working locally, right out of high school, for his brother’s manufacturing business in College Point.

Mr. Black grew up in a military family. His father, brother, uncles, and cousins all served in either World War II, Korean War, or Vietnam War. He was drafted in the U.S. Army in June 1970, and wen to basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. He had Advanced Individual Training for radio mechanics at Fort Benning, Georgia and trained in Artillery at Fort Sill, Oklahoma prior to shipping to Vietnam on New Year’s Day 1971. He served in Field Artillery Specialist 4 (SP4) for 10 months and returned to the United States at Fort Hood, Texas before his honorable discharge in January 1972.

For his time and service to this nation, James received multiple medals and commendations, including the National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with 1 Bronze Service Star, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, and Sharpshooter Rifle.

Upon his discharge, he returned home to College Point and continued working for his brother’s manufacturing business for 32 years.  After his service in the military, James stayed active in the community. He coached Little League and served as the Commodore of Skyline Sportsman Club for 15 years. He has been a proud member of the College Point Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 885 for over 40 years, and has served as the current Commander for the last two years.

He met his wife, Jane, at a school dance; they have been happily married for 47 years.

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