United States Marine Lance Corporal Kimple, was a member of the class of 2005 at Bloom-Carroll High School, but left early and earned his GED. He was a very bright young man, very intellectual. He loved to read and would often be found reading books, hidden within textbooks, during class. James joined the Marines right after he got his GED, fufilling a dream he had since he was age 16. He had a desire to be in the real world, not sitting in a classroom. Currently based at at Camp Pendelton, California, attached to the Combat Logistics Battalion 1, Combat Logistics Regiment 1, 1st Marine Logistics Group, I Marine Expeditionary Force, he left for his second tour of duty in Iraq in February of 2008. James was one of four Marines killed in an IED attack. His military awards include the Navy Unit Commendation, the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon and posthumous awards of the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart. James is survived by his wife, Amber N. (Hedrick) Kimple of Amanda; his children, Drake J. and Maleah R. Kimple, both of Amanda and Dominic J. Kimple of Carroll; parents, Cate (John) Kimple; and brothers, Jovid and Parker Kimple, all of Carroll; grandparents, Doris Chandler of Carroll, Norma Godenschwager of Nelsonville and Mary Ann and John Kimple of Marietta; one brother-in-law, several sisters-in-law, one nephew and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins. He is also survived by mothers and fathers-in-law, Rhonda and Tom Bartlett, Kent and Stacy Mullins and Ben Hedrick. Also special friends, Lcpl Matt King, Pfc Nathan Tate and Lcpl CJ Southerland still serving in Iraq with James in the same company. James was preceded in death by his father Stephen F. Freer of Nelsonville and grandfather Clarence Lee "Larry" Chandler of Carroll and Huntington, Tenn.