James enlisted in the Army at Clarksburg, WV on 12 October 1942.

He was assigned to Company A, 508th PIR and was declared as qualified parachutist on 5 March 1943.

Sgt Myers jumped into Normandy on D-Day, 6 June 1944.  On 29 June 19434 he was declared as missing inaction as of June 8. 

On 17 August 1944 his status was changed to killed in action as of 7 July 1944 which may have been the ate his body was recovered and this late date could indicate that he was a drowning victim.