Colonel James C. Flynn

Colonel James C. Flynn, USMC (Ret.)

Jim passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, September 14, 2025. A devoted husband, father, and proud United States Marine, for 27 years, he lived a life of service, honor, and commitment.

He is survived by Josie, his beloved wife of 51 years; his son, Jimmy (Jenna); his daughter, Jennie (Craig); his grandchildren, Morgan and JJ; his sisters, Sherrie Flynn and Karen Inscoe (Darryl); and his brother, Stefan Medin (Mirjam).

His distinguished time in the Marine Corps offered many unique assignments and opportunities. Following his graduation from the University of San Diego, he was commissioned as Second Lieutenant and served a tour in the Republic of Vietnam. Upon returning from Vietnam, he was assigned to Dallas, Texas for I & I Duty (Inspector-Instructor) at the Dallas Reserve Training. He met and married wife Josie while on this assignment.

Jim attended Basic and Advanced Artillery Schools in Fort Sill Oklahoma, followed by an overseas assignment in Okinawa, Japan where he was a Battery Commander, training his men in various exercises around the South Pacific.

He returned to the states and was assigned to the Basic School in Quantico, Virginia and was shortly reassigned to the Pentagon in Washington, where he served as the Aide to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General David Jones. Following this Pentagon assignment, he was selected to be the Assistant Naval Attaché, U.S. Embassy, Copenhagen, Denmark and completed a year of training for this assignment in Danish Language School and the Defense Intelligence College.

Upon his return to the United States, he was assigned to Camp Lejeune, North Carolina where he eventually took command of the First Battalion, 10th Marines Regiment, 2nd Marine Division. Following this command, he had a one-year unaccompanied tour to Panama, serving in a drug interdiction assignment.

Returning from Panama, he was selected to be the Commanding Officer of the Marine Barracks, 8th and I, "the Oldest Post in the Corps", in Washington, DC – A place Jim, Josie and kids lived, loved, and came to call their "Camelot"! After a change of Command at the Marine Barracks, he was assigned to Headquarters Marine Corps, Washington as the Military Secretary to General Carl Mundy, Commandant of the Marine Corps. His career was marked by professional excellence, but especially by his care and unwavering dedication to the Marines he led and mentored throughout his years of service.

Jim retired from the Marine Corps in 1995 and continued his service to the nation through a 17-year career with General Motors/General Dynamics Land Systems Defense, where he was responsible for the Department of Defense equipment focusing on the Marine Corps, Army, and National Guard. He helped develop, implement, and train military use of the new LAV (Light Armored Vehicle), an important piece of equipment in modern warfare, then and today.

In 2012, after a retirement from General Dynamics, Jim and Josie moved to a lovely resort community in Loudon, (Knoxville) Tennessee. Here Jim enjoyed golfing, playing poker, boating on the Tennessee River, and eventually purchasing an RV (3 different RV's, each bigger than the last!) where they traveled frequently around the country with the local Road Runners Club.

Never to be far from the Marine Corps and its culture, Jim was on the board of several USMC foundations and organizations, and has maintained close contact with members of his 1972 Marine Corps TBS 2-70 (Basic School) group, which enhanced life with frequent reunions and "remember the time" stories from the past!

His pride in the accomplishments of son, Jimmy and daughter, Jennie, along with the love of his beautiful grandchildren, cap off a life well lived and a well-deserved rest.

Jim will be interred with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery on a date to be determined within the next six months.

A Celebration of Life for Jim is planned for Monday, October 20th at 1:00 PM in the Tellico Village Yacht Club, Loudon Tennessee.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the charity of your choice.