James Lee Minish

James “Jimmy” Lee Minish, 70, of Greensboro died Tuesday, October 31, 2017 at Moses H. Cone Memorial Hospital.

A memorial service will be 2:00 PM Saturday, November 4, 2017 at George Brothers Funeral Service. A graveside service at Arlington National Cemetery will be announced later.

Jimmy was a caring son, brother, father grandfather and friend. He served with the 1st Cav Med/Evac Division of the United States Army in Vietnam as crew chief and door gunner flying into combat zones to rescue the wounded.  Upon his return to the United States, Jimmy helped found the local Veterans of the Vietnam War chapter and served as its first commander. Through this, he became an advocate for the rights of veterans that were exposed to the deadly chemical known as Agent Orange in Vietnam and to those suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder resulting from their experiences in Vietnam. He traveled to the Vietnam Memorial Wall in Washington, DC more than twenty-five times to help heal his own struggles with PTSD. He was very active in the efforts to resettle the Montagnard refugees from Vietnam and Cambodia to North Carolina during the late 1980’s.  Jimmy was given the honor to be one of the three soldiers depicted in the bronze North Carolina Vietnam Veterans Memorial statue located on the state capitol grounds in Raleigh sculpted by Abbe Godwin and dedicated in 1987.

Jimmy was a graduate of Grimsley High School and was retired from AT&T. He enjoyed traveling the state and country on his Harley Davidson having toured solo from North Carolina to Washington state.

Through his death, Jimmy has joined his parents, Reuben James Minish and Alma Blake Minish and his life-long friend and fellow Vietnam veteran, Johnny Jordan.

He leaves behind his twin sons and daughters-in-law, Bryan and Janie Minish and Jamie and Heather Minish; twelve grandchildren; loving sister, Gail Minish of Wilmington; and his close friend and supporter, Ann Minish.

Jim will be greatly missed and cherished forever.

The family will receive friends from 1-2 Saturday at the funeral home prior to the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project, PO Box 758517, Topeka, Kansas 66675-8517.