Lt. Col. James L. Wiley

Posted by Hendoki on 09/19/08 at 8:40PM

I'm so sorry on your loss Mrs.Wiley. I'm sure those in the picture with him also feel a great loss.
James must have been one good and decent man.

Posted by npeck56 on 09/20/08 at 12:16PM

My condolences go out to the Wiley family. I had the pleasure of teaching his daughter, Sarah, and was really touched by his message last year when he visited our school while home on leave to see his family. He inspired me to send items to the children he said so desperately needed our help. Wiley was quite an ambassador for humanitarian causes. He walked the type of walk that made a difference and helped to do to make the world a better place. May he rest in peace.

My name is Jose and Jim Wiley was my friend. There has been a hole in my heart since Friday, when I found out that Jim died. Already, I miss Jim dearly.

It is easy to chalk up each loss in the GWOT as just another statistic. Each loss that our nation suffers, though, is a person that is dearly loved, missed, and remembered by family and friends. So I post here to let you know the Jim I knew. To let you know that Jim is not just another number.

I first met Jim in 2003 when I was posted in Kaiserslautern, Germany as the Chief of Legal Assistance. Jim Wiley was the Chief of Client Services, and my boss. My job at K-town was the first job I ever had as an Army lawyer. I was in charge of providing legal assistance to Soldiers in the community. Whenever I had questions as to how to help a soldier, I could always walk in to Jim's office and ask him. He knew everything! He guided me to the right services to provide for Soldiers.

Jim was one of the best bosses I ever had in my 13 years in the Army. He always knew how to guide me in the right direction, without micro-managing. I guess I would describe Jim's managing style as "managing by story-telling." I would have a question, and Jim would answer the question but then go into this entertaining story illustrating the concept. At first, I did not understand why I got a story every time I had a question. Over time, though, I realized that Jim was telling me something profound with every story he told. Around the K-town Client Services office, Jim's stories are legendary.

Jim also understood the meaning of loyalty towards his subordinated. He was fiercely loyal and protective of his subordinates. Whenever "the higher ups" got a wild hair about some complaint (that was usually merit-less), Jim would protect us from the expected overreaction (anyone who has been in the military knows what I am talking about the higher-ups overreacting to some little issue that was resolved on the spot anyways). Jim would speak with the higher-ups and explain that the issue was resolved, and no, they did not need to institute some idiotic policy to resolve a non-existent problem. You would think that most bosses are that way, but my experience with the Army has shown me how special Jim was in this respect. Many bosses run for cover and throw their subordinates under the bus in this type of situation. Not Jim. Jim protected us from the unworkable "bright ideas." Jim was a great boss.

Jim never forgot why we were in K-town - to help the Soldiers and their families. I remember one time when I was Chief of Legal Assistance. Our office hours were 8 to 5. At 5, we would lock the doors, and get back to work researching and resolving the cases that came through that day (many times, we could not resolve the Soldier's legal issue during the 30 minute appointment, so we would schedule a follow-on appt. that allowed us to work the legal aspects before the follow-on). A Soldier came by about 6 and needed Legal Assistance. When he saw the doors were locked, the Soldier went outside and saw that Jim's office lights were on, and started throwing little pebbles at the window. Jim heard it and opened the window. Jim informed him that we were closed. The Soldier explained that his unit was about to go out on a training exercise the next day, and he was in urgent need of assistance. Jim told him to come around to the front and he would help him. As he was going to the door, I asked Jim why he didn't just have the Soldier come back after the training exercise. Jim said to me, "Jose, he needs help now. He might forget to come back later, or this legal issue might get worse. I know we have office hours, but sometimes a Soldier needs help immediately. And we are the only ones who can help him." I will never forget that. What I learned from Jim that day was that sometimes, you just need to throw "the rules" out the window. Because Soldiers are infinitely more important than the rule book.

After being Chief of Legal Assistance, I became Chief of Claims, with Jim as my boss. As Chief of Claims, I was to evaluate claims by Soldiers requesting compensation for personal injury or injury to property. One day, a Soldier that was in the medical detachment (he had been evac'd from Iraq) came into our office. His head was compltely bandaged, with eye, nose, and mouth slits. The Soldier had received a bullet to the head from an insurgent sniper in Iraq. He had miraculously survived. The Soldier filed a claim for $750 that had been in his wallet when he was rushed to the field hospital (Soldiers sometimes carry large amounts of hard cash in Iraq and Afghanistan in case they have to "buy" their way back to their unit. I always carried $1,000 when I was deployed). Apparently, the wallet was lost when the docs were cutting his clothes off to treat him. The problem was that the regulation (DA PAM 27-161) prohibited paying any claims for loss of cash (since it is almost impossible to prove). My claims adjuster, Martina, brought the claim to me. I went straight to Jim. We believed the Soldier, and wanted to pay him, but the reg prohibited it. Jim said, "Well, let's get an exception. This reg is written for a peace-time Army. It does not make sense to apply this policy in this situation." Jim and I fought for the Soldier all the way to the US Army Claims Service, Europe. We drove to Mannheim (1 hour away) to meet with the higher-ups and personally make the Soldier's case. After Jim and I advocated for the Soldier, the Claims Service approved an exception to policy and paid the Soldier his $750. They also wrote new guidance for losses of cash during GWOT, understanding Jim's wisdom.

Jim was a great person who loved his wife Teresa and his beautiful girls. Teresa and the girls regularly came by the office after school. He always lit up when they came by. You could tell that when they were around, nothing else existed. Jim was a total teddy bear around them. They had tons of cats at home, because Jim could never bring himself to say "no" to his girls whenever they adopted a cat. Jim had tons of cat stories (multiple stories for each cat). His cat stories are legendary in K-town.

You can tell alot about a person by the partner he chooses for his spouse. Teresa is a free spirit from Oregon (like Jim), and I think she was his high-school sweetheart (I don't quite remember). Sometimes in the Army, spouses will try to "wear the rank" of their Army spouses (this means they act as if they can order around the spouses of junior ranking Soldiers). Teresa is completely the opposite. From the moment that my family and I arrived in K-ton, she made us feel welcome. Like family. My wife is Korean, and many times that means that some Army spouses aren't as friendly as they could be. Teresa sought my wife out and they beame fast and close friends. I believe that spouses are a team, and know each other better than any other. So I think a spouse's personality can tell alot about a person. Teresa is such an open, inclusive, and loving person; I reinforces what I already know about Jim.

I have so many other stories about Jim. But already this is long. And I find it a bit hard to type with tears in my eyes. So that's about all I have to say right now about Jim. I just wanted anyone who saw this story to think of Jim as the wonderful man he was, not just as a number.

Jim, we love you and miss you dearly. I will NEVER forget you my friend, my friend. I will see you on the other side, my brother. I know you will be waiting with your big smile, hearty handshake, and bear hug.

Your friend and brother,

Jose

I worked with Jim when I was an active-duty JAG officer stationed in K-town. Quite simply, Jim was one of the nicest, most genuine people you would ever want to know. His ever-present smile and laughter will be missed. Godspeed, LTC Wiley- see you on the high ground.

Jim and his family took me into their house while I was an intern in Mannheim, Germany. I will never forget his kindness and compassion. Although we had just met, I was treated as family. Jim was full of life and laughter and I will never forget him. My condolences go out to his wife and girls.

Jim was my best friend, mentor, and hero. I was stationed in Germany with Jim for 7 years. The news of his death was a blow to my very soul.
His guidance, friendship, and unwavering love for his friends , family, and the Kaiserslautern military community can never be replaced ,nor forgotten.
In my times of trouble and heartache Jim was always at my side as I will be at his families side now.
Rest in peace Jim, as always in everything you did you gave all. Look down on us an smile and know we will embrace and protect the girls everyday.
Your friend, Jeff

Lt. Col. James L. Wiley
	46, of North Bend, Oregon Died September 18, 2008 at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan. He was assigned to the 27th Brigade Combat Team, New York Army National Guard, Syracuse, N.Y.
We found this article and comments at http://www.oregonlive.com : Afghanistan by Lori Tobias, The Oregonian Friday September 19, 2008, 7:22 PM Lt. Col. James L. Wiley believed the path to peace lay with the children of Afghanistan, his mother says. He collected clothing and candy to distribute to them. A North Bend soldier who found humanity among the children of Afghanistan died Thursday at Bagram Air Base. Lt. Col. James L. Wiley, 46, a member of the 27th Brigade Combat Team of the New York Army National Guard, died of noncombat-related injuries, the U.S. Department of Defense said. His death is under investigation. No details of the cause have been released. Wiley was born and raised in the coastal community and graduated from North Bend High School in 1979. He received a degree in marketing and management from the University of Oregon, said his mother, Ruth Wiley. He had planned to become an international clothing buyer, then decided he didn't care for the travel and opted for law school. As it turned out, he would travel plenty. His law degree from Willamette University School of Law in 1991 led to a posting with the government as a military attorney in Germany. When it was time to return home, the government asked him to stay as chief legal counsel, and Wiley agreed, Ruth Wiley said. About a year ago, James Wiley decided to don fatigues again and become a soldier for one final tour. "While he was there, he really became a humanitarian," Ruth Wiley said. "He collected clothing for the children. He told me, 'Mom, we can fight as many wars as we want, but when we get the children believing in us, that's when we will get the wars to stop.'" Members of Ruth Wiley's church, Holy Redeemer Catholic Church of North Bend, made hats, scarves and gloves, sending them to her son to distribute. Lt. Col. Wiley also organized clothing drives through the Oregon State Bar, and often sent pictures to the organization of him and the children he befriended, said Kateri Walsh, a spokeswoman for the state bar. Afghanistan made him a new person, Ruth Wiley said. "He said he had found the new Jim over there. He was really learning a lot from these children." Before his service with the New York Army National Guard, Wiley served in 1986 with the Oregon National Guard A Company, Second Battalion, 162nd Infantry, and later with Troop E of the 116th Calvary in Woodburn. He is survived by his wife, Theresa; three daughters; and his parents, Ruth and James L. Wiley Sr. Ruth Wiley isn't sure how her son died. "Maybe," she said, "I just don't want to know. It happened to be my birthday. I turned 65." -- Lori Tobias; loritobias@aol.com COMMENTS (6)Post a comment Posted by Hendoki on 09/19/08 at 8:40PM I'm so sorry on your loss Mrs.Wiley. I'm sure those in the picture with him also feel a great loss. James must have been one good and decent man. Posted by npeck56 on 09/20/08 at 12:16PM My condolences go out to the Wiley family. I had the pleasure of teaching his daughter, Sarah, and was really touched by his message last year when he visited our school while home on leave to see his family. He inspired me to send items to the children he said so desperately needed our help. Wiley was quite an ambassador for humanitarian causes. He walked the type of walk that made a difference and helped to do to make the world a better place. May he rest in peace. Posted by joseacora on 09/21/08 at 5:45AM My name is Jose and Jim Wiley was my friend. There has been a hole in my heart since Friday, when I found out that Jim died. Already, I miss Jim dearly. It is easy to chalk up each loss in the GWOT as just another statistic. Each loss that our nation suffers, though, is a person that is dearly loved, missed, and remembered by family and friends. So I post here to let you know the Jim I knew. To let you know that Jim is not just another number. I first met Jim in 2003 when I was posted in Kaiserslautern, Germany as the Chief of Legal Assistance. Jim Wiley was the Chief of Client Services, and my boss. My job at K-town was the first job I ever had as an Army lawyer. I was in charge of providing legal assistance to Soldiers in the community. Whenever I had questions as to how to help a soldier, I could always walk in to Jim's office and ask him. He knew everything! He guided me to the right services to provide for Soldiers. Jim was one of the best bosses I ever had in my 13 years in the Army. He always knew how to guide me in the right direction, without micro-managing. I guess I would describe Jim's managing style as "managing by story-telling." I would have a question, and Jim would answer the question but then go into this entertaining story illustrating the concept. At first, I did not understand why I got a story every time I had a question. Over time, though, I realized that Jim was telling me something profound with every story he told. Around the K-town Client Services office, Jim's stories are legendary. Jim also understood the meaning of loyalty towards his subordinated. He was fiercely loyal and protective of his subordinates. Whenever "the higher ups" got a wild hair about some complaint (that was usually merit-less), Jim would protect us from the expected overreaction (anyone who has been in the military knows what I am talking about the higher-ups overreacting to some little issue that was resolved on the spot anyways). Jim would speak with the higher-ups and explain that the issue was resolved, and no, they did not need to institute some idiotic policy to resolve a non-existent problem. You would think that most bosses are that way, but my experience with the Army has shown me how special Jim was in this respect. Many bosses run for cover and throw their subordinates under the bus in this type of situation. Not Jim. Jim protected us from the unworkable "bright ideas." Jim was a great boss. Jim never forgot why we were in K-town - to help the Soldiers and their families. I remember one time when I was Chief of Legal Assistance. Our office hours were 8 to 5. At 5, we would lock the doors, and get back to work researching and resolving the cases that came through that day (many times, we could not resolve the Soldier's legal issue during the 30 minute appointment, so we would schedule a follow-on appt. that allowed us to work the legal aspects before the follow-on). A Soldier came by about 6 and needed Legal Assistance. When he saw the doors were locked, the Soldier went outside and saw that Jim's office lights were on, and started throwing little pebbles at the window. Jim heard it and opened the window. Jim informed him that we were closed. The Soldier explained that his unit was about to go out on a training exercise the next day, and he was in urgent need of assistance. Jim told him to come around to the front and he would help him. As he was going to the door, I asked Jim why he didn't just have the Soldier come back after the training exercise. Jim said to me, "Jose, he needs help now. He might forget to come back later, or this legal issue might get worse. I know we have office hours, but sometimes a Soldier needs help immediately. And we are the only ones who can help him." I will never forget that. What I learned from Jim that day was that sometimes, you just need to throw "the rules" out the window. Because Soldiers are infinitely more important than the rule book. After being Chief of Legal Assistance, I became Chief of Claims, with Jim as my boss. As Chief of Claims, I was to evaluate claims by Soldiers requesting compensation for personal injury or injury to property. One day, a Soldier that was in the medical detachment (he had been evac'd from Iraq) came into our office. His head was compltely bandaged, with eye, nose, and mouth slits. The Soldier had received a bullet to the head from an insurgent sniper in Iraq. He had miraculously survived. The Soldier filed a claim for $750 that had been in his wallet when he was rushed to the field hospital (Soldiers sometimes carry large amounts of hard cash in Iraq and Afghanistan in case they have to "buy" their way back to their unit. I always carried $1,000 when I was deployed). Apparently, the wallet was lost when the docs were cutting his clothes off to treat him. The problem was that the regulation (DA PAM 27-161) prohibited paying any claims for loss of cash (since it is almost impossible to prove). My claims adjuster, Martina, brought the claim to me. I went straight to Jim. We believed the Soldier, and wanted to pay him, but the reg prohibited it. Jim said, "Well, let's get an exception. This reg is written for a peace-time Army. It does not make sense to apply this policy in this situation." Jim and I fought for the Soldier all the way to the US Army Claims Service, Europe. We drove to Mannheim (1 hour away) to meet with the higher-ups and personally make the Soldier's case. After Jim and I advocated for the Soldier, the Claims Service approved an exception to policy and paid the Soldier his $750. They also wrote new guidance for losses of cash during GWOT, understanding Jim's wisdom. Jim was a great person who loved his wife Teresa and his beautiful girls. Teresa and the girls regularly came by the office after school. He always lit up when they came by. You could tell that when they were around, nothing else existed. Jim was a total teddy bear around them. They had tons of cats at home, because Jim could never bring himself to say "no" to his girls whenever they adopted a cat. Jim had tons of cat stories (multiple stories for each cat). His cat stories are legendary in K-town. You can tell alot about a person by the partner he chooses for his spouse. Teresa is a free spirit from Oregon (like Jim), and I think she was his high-school sweetheart (I don't quite remember). Sometimes in the Army, spouses will try to "wear the rank" of their Army spouses (this means they act as if they can order around the spouses of junior ranking Soldiers). Teresa is completely the opposite. From the moment that my family and I arrived in K-ton, she made us feel welcome. Like family. My wife is Korean, and many times that means that some Army spouses aren't as friendly as they could be. Teresa sought my wife out and they beame fast and close friends. I believe that spouses are a team, and know each other better than any other. So I think a spouse's personality can tell alot about a person. Teresa is such an open, inclusive, and loving person; I reinforces what I already know about Jim. I have so many other stories about Jim. But already this is long. And I find it a bit hard to type with tears in my eyes. So that's about all I have to say right now about Jim. I just wanted anyone who saw this story to think of Jim as the wonderful man he was, not just as a number. Jim, we love you and miss you dearly. I will NEVER forget you my friend, my friend. I will see you on the other side, my brother. I know you will be waiting with your big smile, hearty handshake, and bear hug. Your friend and brother, Jose Posted by deanlynch on 09/22/08 at 1:29PM I worked with Jim when I was an active-duty JAG officer stationed in K-town. Quite simply, Jim was one of the nicest, most genuine people you would ever want to know. His ever-present smile and laughter will be missed. Godspeed, LTC Wiley- see you on the high ground. Posted by fitchaj on 09/23/08 at 8:05AM Jim and his family took me into their house while I was an intern in Mannheim, Germany. I will never forget his kindness and compassion. Although we had just met, I was treated as family. Jim was full of life and laughter and I will never forget him. My condolences go out to his wife and girls. Posted by lawreje on 09/24/08 at 3:06AM Jim was my best friend, mentor, and hero. I was stationed in Germany with Jim for 7 years. The news of his death was a blow to my very soul. His guidance, friendship, and unwavering love for his friends , family, and the Kaiserslautern military community can never be replaced ,nor forgotten. In my times of trouble and heartache Jim was always at my side as I will be at his families side now. Rest in peace Jim, as always in everything you did you gave all. Look down on us an smile and know we will embrace and protect the girls everyday. Your friend, Jeff

Afghanistan

by Lori Tobias, The Oregonian Friday September 19, 2008, 7:22 PM

by Lori Tobias, The Oregonian
Friday September 19, 2008, 7:22 PM