DODGE CITY - James Issaac Scott, 71, died Wednesday, August 1, 2018 at  the Kansas Soldiers Home, Ft. Dodge, Kansas.

He was born May 22, 1947 at McCalister, Oklahoma, the son of Joseph Elmer and Virgie Mae (Howell) Scott. When James was two the family moved to Idaloo, Texas and later to Plainview, Texas where he attended high school and played on the football team. When James was 17 he joined the National Guard and when he turned 18 he joined the United States Army. In January of 1967 he was deployed to Vietnam. Three days after deployment they had their first fight (firefight) with North Vietnam in South Vietnam. He served with the 1st and 5th Infantry as a cook, which he did not like, so he changed his MOS to Amale Sgt.  He later was a forward observer with the 1st and 5th Artillery.  He received his first combat decoration at Bodop, South Vietnam.  He traveled thousands of miles through Vietnam and had several other battles, one in which he received 2 more combat decorations.  He was at Firebase Rita when it was hit with a total regimental force where he received several injuries from small fire and called artillery due to several wounded and killed.  One firebase he was at lost the guns and ammunition from a fire set by villagers in retaliation for burning their village.  He was  involved in a helicopter crash  and was a POW for over a year until Special Forces rescued him.  He served in Thiland, Hong Kong, Philippines, Germany, South and North Vietnam, Cambodia and Australia and received 2 Army Commendation Medals, Bronze Star, Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Palm and Good Conduct Medal.

He was a truck driver, working for Kindsvater Truck Line, Kansas Feeds and Kitchens, Inc. all in Dodge City.  He was an advocate of Veterans Affairs. He was a member of the Dodge City Church of Christ for 44 years and Drove the Joy Bus for 8 years.

On March 15, 1974 he married the love of his life, Joyce Mae Reece at the Church of Christ in Dodge City by Kenneth Turner. They were married for 43 loving years.  She preceded him in death on January 29, 2018.

Survivors include: his daughter, Jennifer Rodriguez and husband Vince, Minneola; his son, Joseph Scott and wife Melanie, Dodge City; 6 grandchildren, Liam Scott, Dodge City, Caden Miller, Dodge City, Rylan Scott, Dodge City, Jordan Morrissey and husband Jeramie, Minneola, Reanna Braman, Minneola; and 1 great grandchild; 2 brothers, David Scott, Sasakwa, Oklahoma and Randy Scott, Liberal; and a sister, Ruth Culifer, Sasakwa.

He was also preceded in death by his parents, 3 sisters, Sue Blaag, Delta Scott and Cleta Dunham, a brother, Charles Scott, a grandson, Dylan Scott and a great grandchild.

Private family services will be held at the Kansas Veterans Cemetery at Ft. Dodge with full military honors by Howard Gotschall VFW Post 1714 and Fort Riley Honor Guard.  Visitation will be Sunday, August 5, 2018 from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm at Ziegler Funeral Chapel, Dodge City.  A memorial service will be held 10:00 am Saturday, August 25, 2018 at the Dodge City Church of Christ.

The family suggests memorials to the Wounded Warrior Project in care of Ziegler Funeral Chapel, 1901 N. 14th Ave., Dodge City, Kansas 67801.