United States of AmericaPOW / MIA · Still unaccounted for

U.S. Air Force · United States

James Richard McElvain

Lieutenant Colonel

1939 – 1972

Vietnam Wall · Panel 01W

Life Keepsakes Service Decorations Shadow Box Memorials Laid to Rest In Our Keeping

Lieutenant Colonel James Richard McElvain served in the U.S. Air Force. James served with the 430 TFS TAKHLI. James served in the Vietnam War and the Cold War.

How He Died

Manner Undetermined

Cause Multiple traumatic injuries

Circumstance Missing in action

Keepsakes

Service Record

U.S. Air Force

430TH TAC FTR SQDN, 474TH TAC FTR WING, 7TH AF

1541B: Air Operations Officer

LTCOL

NAVIGATOR

1978

Pay grade O05.

Conflicts

Vietnam War Cold War

Awards & Decorations 5

For service and achievement

Purple Heart

Air Medal

Campaign and service medals

National Defense Service Medal

Vietnam Service Medal

Foreign awards

Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal

Memorials

Vietnam Veterans Memorial Panel 01W · Line 94 cut as JAMES R McELVAIN

Burial Information

Cemetery National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier neuraspine_01krcpgh4mhq3r94ta0n57f0en

Record added August 7, 2026 neuraweb.nw

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Last updated October 12, 2026

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Shadow Box

James Richard McElvain

Lieutenant Colonel

U.S. Air Force

- 1978

430th Tactical Fighter Squadron TAKHLI

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