Col. James Leon Draper

COLEBROOK — Col.  James Leon Draper Jr., 93, died peacefully at home on May 4, 2010. His wife, Shirley (Abeling) Draper, predeceased him in 2000.

He was born June 22, 1916, in New Haven, the son of Marion (Coyne) and James Draper.

He grew up in Morris Cove, attended New Haven public schools and graduated from the University of Connecticut in 1941, where he served in the ROTC and met his future wife, Shirley. Following graduation, Jim served his country in the U.S. Army as an infantry training officer during World War II, including service under Gen. Joseph Stillwell in Burma and as a U.S. advisor in the Korean War.

Experiences in both wars involved prolonged combat and intelligence leadership positions under harsh jungle and mountain conditions. In the northern Burma theater in the summer of 1944, Jim’s unit joined Merrill’s Marauders to win important control of the Myitkina airfield, eventually pushing on to help facilitate the opening of the Lido and Burma roads.

In the Korean War, he was the first American to cross the 38th parallel into North Korea, as advisor with the South Korean Capital Division. After the Korean War, Jim also served in Germany as executive commander of the Baumholder Army Base, then in Army Intelligence at the Pentagon and later at the Army Security Agency.

Jim was a graduate of the Infantry School, The Command and General Staff College, the Strategic Intelligence School, The National Security Agency and the U.S. Army War College. His military service recognition included the following: Legion of Merit; Bronze Star Medal with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster; Army Commendation Medal with Metal Pendant; National Defenense Service Medal; Special Breast Order Yun Hui with Ribbon from the Republic of China; Korea Service Medal; Armed Forces Reserve Medal; United Nations Service Medal; Combat Infantry Badge 2nd award; AGS Certificate; Republic of Korea Presidential Citation; The Republic of Korea’s highest awards for Valor and Bravery, the Chung Mu Distinguished Service Medal 3rd Class and the Wharang Distinguished Service Medal 4th Class.

On leaving the Army in 1965, his retirement citation read: “Colonel Draper’s keen perception, ingenuity and extensive military knowledge consistently led to the timely and efficient completion of the intelligence tasks of paramount importance to national security.â€

When he returned to civilian life, Jim developed successful careers in insurance and real estate. He also formed a partnership that grew to own and operate 23 FM radio stations across the country.

Jim and Shirley retired from civilian life in 1976, moving from Fairfax, Va., to their summer home on Highland Lake in Winsted, eventually settling in Colebrook, where they were active in many local organizations. Jim was a member of the Winsted Rotary Club and, along with Shirley, was honored with the highest honor in Rotary, the Paul Harris Fellowship Award. Jim also served as a director and finance chairman of the Winsted Memorial Hospital.

Jim and Shirley have been benefactors of many community and educational programs, including the Northwestern Connecticut Community College and the University of Connecticut, where they first met. Northwest Connecticut Community College recoginzed their generosity by naming their conference center the Shirley A. Draper Conference Center. Having previously endowed the Draper Chair in Early American History at UConn, the university recently honored Jim and Shirley by naming Lecture Hall 108 in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences the James L. and Shirley A. Draper Lecture Hall.

To friends and family, Jim and Shirley’s true legacy is their humility and gracious friendship. They started as did many Connecticut natives who sacrificed their early years together to two wars: He in battle and she on the home front, sometimes not knowing for a year at a time if Jim was alive and if they would be reunited. Both spent their last years as active community members, continuing to live the philosophy that love is service.

Jim is survived by his brother, Robert Draper of High Point, N.C.; nephews Father Andrew Draper, TOR, of Mocksville, N.C., and David Draper and his wife, Jean, of Mechanicsville, Va.; a great-nephew, Robert A. Draper III; a geat-niece, Whitley Draper; a brother-in-law, Donald Florian; and dear friends, Susan and Mark Caufield.

Burial was May 13 at Forest View Cemetery in Winsted with military honors. A memorial service followed at the Colebrook Congregational Church in Colebrook with the Rev. Alice Murphy and Father Andrew Draper officiating.

Gifts may be made in lieu of flowers to the Winsted Rotary Club, PO Box 475, Winsted, CT 06098. To leave an online condolence, visit maloneyfuneral.com.