James V. Swales was born on April 25, 1919 to Charles L. Swales and Ruth M. Confer. He married Hazel L. Miller on December 31, 1945.

James passed away on March 20, 2007.

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The obituary for James Swales provides a lot of information on his life. It is reproduced below:

James V. "Victor" Swales

James Victor' V. Swales - April 25, 1919 - March 20, 2007.
James "Victor" V. Swales, formerly of rural Centre Hall, died Tuesday, March 20, 2007, at Centre Crest Nursing Home in Bellefonte. He was born April 25, 1919, at Loganton, a son of the late Charles L. Swales and Ruth M. Confer, and was raised by his stepmother Anna Swales, who also preceded him in death.

On Dec. 31, 1945, he married the former Hazel L. Miller, who survives at home in Millheim. In addition to his wife, Hazel, he is survived by two daughters, Carol L. Ravenna (Donald), of New Port Richey, Fla., and Victoria L Bressler (Dennis), of Millheim; one son, Mike Swales (Eileen), of Warriors Mark; eight grandchildren, Hope Franklin (Todd), Anthony Ravenna (Heather), Chad Bressler (Corinna), Troy Bressler (Samantha), Christopher Swales (Jackie), Jennifer Swales (Ben), Cheri Nearhoof (Scott), and Jaime Miller (Jason); six great-grandchildren, Chase, Alexa, Ave, Allison, Westley and Austin; one sister, Margaret Hughes, of Jersey Shore; and one brother, Robert B. Swales (Ginger), of Mifflinburg. In addition to his parents and stepmother, he was preceded in death by three sisters.

He attended Loganton schools.
Mr. Swales was a proud veteran of World War II and a survivor of Pearl Harbor, while stationed at the Schofield Barracks. He served with the 95th Portable Surgical Hospital in the 77th Infantry Division, in the Gilbert Islands, the Marshal's and the Marianas. He earned the Good Conduct, American Defense and American Campaign Medals. He also earned the Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal, with three Bronze Stars, and the World War II Victory Medal, prior to being honorably discharged on Jan. 13, 1946, with the rank of Technician Fourth Grade.

For nearly 28 years, he was employed as a tool and die maker at Cerro Metals near Bellefonte, retiring in 1982. After taking classes in upholstery, he did custom upholstery work following his retirement from Cerro. He was a member of Trinity United Church of Christ in Centre Hall and the V.F.W. in Bellefonte. He was a devoted family man who enjoyed spending time with his family, and fishing and camping in Delaware.

Friends will be received from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, March 23, 2007, at Mark D. Heintzelman Funeral and Cremation Service, 226 S. Pennsylvania Ave., Centre Hall. The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 24, 2007, at the funeral home, with the Rev. S. Leigh Pick officiating. Burial will follow at Centre County Memorial Park, 1032 Benner Pike, State College, with military honors.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory may be made to Trinity United Church of Christ, P.O. Box 212, Centre Hall, PA 16828 or to the Centre Crest Activities Fund, 502 E. Howard St. Bellefonte, PA 16823.

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Interview with "James Swales of Center Hall", date unknown:

On December 7, 1941, Swales was a young Army Corporal stationed at Schofield Barracks. He has vivid memories of the Japanese attack, especially of the bombing and strafing that "demolished" all the planes at adjacent Wheeler Field.

"I went over there in 1940," said Swales, a Loganton, Clinton County native, who was working in Williamsport at the time he enlisted. "Once we got in the war, my unit of thirty enlisted men and four surgeons stuck right with the 77th Infantry Division. We went wherever they went."

That tour of duty took Swales through battles in the Gilbert Islands, the Marshalls and the Marianas to name just a few western Pacific locales that became household words in the early 1940's.

"It was four years and seven months after Pearl Harbor before I got back to the United States," said Swales, later a tool and die maker for Titan Metal and now Cerro Metal Products in Bellefonte.

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