
About a year ago, James L. Wiley decided to don fatigues again and become a soldier for one final tour in Iraq.
“While he was there, he really became a humanitarian,” said his mother, Ruth Wiley. “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.’”
Wiley, 46, of North Bend, Ore., died Sept. 18 at Bagram Airfield of injuries from a non-combat-related incident. He was a 1979 high school graduate and was assigned to Syracuse, N.Y.
He earned degrees in math and chemistry as well as marketing and management from the University of Oregon. He also was a member of the Oregon National Guard during college.
Wiley then earned a law degree from Willamette Law School and enlisted...