Facility: Rogue Valley CC
Hometown: Medford, OR (born in Redmond, OR)
PGA Member Since: 1976
Jim Wise became interested in golf at an early age, caddying for his parents at Juniper GC in Redmond, OR. When they moved to Medford in 1954, his parents joined Rogue Valley CC and Jim started playing more and more with the many juniors at the club. As he grew up, he lettered two years at Medford High (1963 and 1964). He also lettered his first two years of college at SOC in 1965 and 1966, where they placed ninth in the nation in 1965 and 12th in 1966. He then transferred to Oregon State U and lettered his senior year 1968. Following college, he spent the next 6 years in the US Navy as a Naval Aviator flying F-4 Phantoms.
Jim enrolled in the Navy Aviation Officer Candidate School in May 1968 and started at AOCS in Pensacola, Florida in September 1968. After 8 months of basic training and aviation schooling, he received his wings of gold in May 1969. He started flying F-4 Phantoms at VF 121 in San Diego in January 1970 and was later transferred to VF 161 (Fighter Squadron 161) in June 1970.
Jim was aboard the USS Midway CV-41 for two combat cruises to Vietnam, April – November 1971 and March 1972 – March 1973. In between the two cruises, he was sent to Top Gun (Navy Fighter Weapons School, January/February 1972). He flew 260 + combat missions in Vietnam, including the last MiG kill of the war in January 1973.
Home from Vietnam in April 1973, Jim started in the golf business at Rogue Valley CC on April 15, 1973. He worked six and a half years as an Assistant Professional and became Head Professional in January 1981. He retired in January 2012 and remains active on the Section Rules Committee for over 40 years. He was elected to the Medford Sports Hall of Fame in 2017.
NAM-POW’s – 50 Years of Freedom
2023 marks the 50th anniversary of the POW’s held in prisons in Vietnam – some having been imprisoned for over eight years, they are the longest held POW’s in the history of the United States. After the Peace Accords were signed in Paris on January 27, 1973, the POW’s were set to be released starting that February. The last group of POW’s were released on March 29, 1973.
On May 22-25, 2023, the NAM POW’s will celebrate their 50th year of freedom from the deplorable prisons of Vietnam. As part of that celebration, the NAM-POW’s will be hosted at the Nixon Library in Yorba Linda, CA for a replication of the historic 1973 White House “Welcome Home” dinner.
This is where we need your help! The 50th Anniversary Reunion will be the last official reunion for all the surviving NAM-POW’s. In order to bring as many of the remaining NAM-POW’s as possible to attend this important milestone event, please consider donating to help offset the cost for this reunion.
“One of my squadron mates was shot down on my wing in August 1972 and became a POW for 8 months until his release in March 1973. He happens to be the go-to man for the NAM-POW Reunion, so I am honored to assist him in raising funds for the reunion in May 2023,” stated Jim. “The relationship we have is unique in the fact we lived through life and death situations in combat and the friendships are lasting and close.”
To donate, visit nam-pows.org and click “Donate”. NAM-POWs Inc. is a tax-exempt 501(c)(19) Veterans Corporation recognized by the IRS.