KOREAN WAR VET HONORED
Clifton Park man served in Air Force
BALLSTON SPA, N.Y. >> Airman lst Class James G. Trainor’s life was characterized by faith, family and a commitment to service.
The late Clifton Park resident, an Air Force and Korean War veteran, was remembered Tuesday during Honoring Our Deceased Veterans program ceremonies at Saratoga County offices in Ballston Spa.
Trainor’s son, Brig. Gen. (ret.) Tim Trainor, former dean of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, recalled his father’s dedication to country and community.
“His was a life well lived,” he said. “Dad was very proud of his service in the Air Force. Good societies take the time to honor those who served in their defense. You are doing that here today.”
James G. Trainor and his wife, Janet, who attended Tuesday’s ceremony, were married more than 60 years. The couple’s three other adult children were also in attendance -- James P., Kathy and Maureen Trainor.
In Korea, Trainor belonged to the Air Police and handled a sentry dog named Bullet. The use of canines in the military was primarily begun during World War II and increased during the Korean War, said Frank McClement, Saratoga County Veterans Service Agency director.
“Bullet would alert Jim when
the enemy was nearby, often saving his life,” he said.
McClement read a poignant poem, “Trusted Partner,” by Howard G. Yates, which expresses the deep bond between dog and handler.
Trainor was awarded the Korean Service Medal with one Bronze Star, United Nations Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal and the Good Conduct Medal.
A Staten Island native, he grew up an ardent Yankees fan and stayed active in baseball long after his military career as a coach in the Clifton Park Baseball League and Babe Ruth World Series.
Tim Trainor said every phone call to his father eventually came back to the Yankees.
“The Yankees general manager was always doing something wrong,” he joked.
In addition to sports, James Trainor belonged to American Legion Post 1450, the VFW, Knights of Columbus and he was a communicant of St. Edward the Confessor Church in Clifton Park.
Officials presented the Trainor family with numerous proclamations and awards including a state Senate Liberty Medal, the state’s highest honor, a flag flown over the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. and a citation signed by President Donald Trump.
“The presence of all you today proves his legacy lives on,” McClement said.