Roll of Honor
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James Brewer Crane Couch
- School: Physicians & Surgeons
- Class Year: 1949
- War: Korean War
- Date of Death: April 5, 1951
Lieutenant James Brewer Crane Couch, M.D., U.S. Navy, was killed instantly by an exploding mine while attending to a US Army soldier five miles northwest of Chuncheon, Korea, on April 5, 1951. Lieutenant Couch was a Naval Medical Officer assigned to the First Cavalry Division, US Army. Lieutenant Junior Grade Couch was awarded the Purple Heart, the Combat Action Ribbon, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.
Tributes
James Couch was my uncle, an uncle I never met since he died before I was born. I have spoken to those he left behind and learned that he was a compassionate man. I feel certain that those he served with in Korea got the very best care Jim could offer. I also have a copy of a picture taken literally some 30 seconds before he and the men he was with in the photo died due to, so the story goes, an NK booby trap. While the photo is haunting in many ways it is one of my most treasured possessions. I am sad that I never got to meet him, but will always feel a connection to him since we share the same birthday. Miss you Uncle Jim.
- Nate Couch
Lt Jg James Brewer Crane Couch (upper left with face visible.)
Is any of our information incorrect? You can submit corrections, additional photos, and/or tributes to uarchives@columbia.edu.