J. C. Dorman stands in front of a cabinet of pictures at his home. At left is a photo signed by Cleveland Browns player Johnny Brewer, whom Dorman coached. At right is destroyer, the USS Rueben James, that Dorman served on in WWII.
Photo by Suzanne Feliciano-The Vicksburg Post, April 6, 2008

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

USS Reuben James

USS Reuben James (DE-153) was a Buckley-Class destroyer escort in the U. S. Navy. She was the second ship named for Reuben James, a Boatswain's Mate who distinguished himself fighting the Barbary pirates.

Reuben James was laid down on 7 September 1942 at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard, Portsmouth, VA, launched on 6 February 1943, sponsored by Mrs. Oliver Hiram Ward, and commissioned on 1 April 1943, with Lieutenant Commander Frank D. Giambattista in command. First based in Miami, FL, she conducted anti-submarine patrols and provided training in convoy escort and anti-submarinewarfare. In March 1944, she shifted homeport from Miami to Norfolk, VA.

James C. Dorman enlisted in the Navy on February 16, 1944 in Jackson, MS. On June 11, he joined the USS Reuben James. She escorted a convoy from New York to Norfolk. Between 13 July and 7 November 1944, USS Reuben James successfully escorted two convoys to the Mediterranean, returning with westbound convoys. During the ship's first eastbound voyage, nine German bombers attacked its convoy off Algeria on 1 August 1944. The USS Reuben James shot down one enemy bomber. Returning to Boston on 7 November 1944, she joined an anti-submarine group operation in the North Atlantic. Operating south of Newfoundland, the USS Reuben James was present when Buckley (DE-51) sank German submarine U-879 on 19 April 1945.

Arriving at Houston, TX, on 4 July 1945, the USS Reuben James completed conversion to a radar picket ship on 25 November 1945, and was subsequently employed in the Atlantic and the Caribbean while being stationed in Norfolk, Virginia. She was decommissioned on 11 October 1947. Seaman Dorman likely served on the Reuben James till she was decommissioned.

In 1949, she was designated DER, but was reclassified DE in 1954. She remained in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet until struck from the Navy List on 30 June 1968. Her hulk was sunk as a target on 1 March 1971.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

J. C. Dorman Photos

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dot Moore Dorman Photos

Wedding of JC and Dot Moore Dorman

Billy Wayne Bishop, ?, ?, ?, Margaret Moore, Dot Moore, Dot Moore’s father, J. C. Dorman, ?, ?, Raymond Ray, Melvin Oakes
Minister ? Crawford Street Methodist Church,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At left: Floyd Oakes and Coach J. C. Dorman

At right: Mel Oakes and Coach J. C. Dorman

Oakes Family and Dormans.

Left to Right: Mardie, Mel, Sarah, JC, Pat and Dot.

Phares Griffin, Coach Dorman & Billy Wayne Bishop

 

J. C. Dorman and his dog, January 1958.

JC Dorman and Ted Lankford

Coach Dorman’s HISTORY OF ATHLETICS AT REDWOOD HIGH SCHOOL, 1945 - 1965

Redwood begins the 1944-45 school year as a high school with girls' and boys' basketball. In 1946, football was added. In 1947, girls' and boys' track was added. These sports remained the same through the 1948 and 1949 school year. In 1950, baseball was added. From 1950 through 1961, Redwood High School had football, girls' and boys' basketball, girls' and boys' track and baseball. In 1962, baseball was dropped.

The remainder of the above named sports remained a part of the athletic program until Redwood High School once again became a 1st through 8th grade school. The following people coached from 1945 through 1965.

J.Noel Nutt
Harold Bishop
Marie Hintson
T.A. Jones
Ed Edwards
F.S. Franklin
R.L.Wells
J. C. Dorman
S. W. Banks
Martin Frohn
Ted Langford
Loran Bailey
Bryan Williams
Bobby Ray
John White

During my coaching career at Redwood - I have some of the best memories of my life that I shall always treasure getting to know you as an individual, and watch you grow in your chosen field of sport or sports made me proud of each and everyone of you. The majority always giving me 110% cooperation. What more can you ask! Looking back over the years, and if given the opportunity to live my life over again - I'd still choose to be your Coach. So, let me tell each and every one of you "THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES" you have given to me.

Thank you for allowing me to share these Moments of History with you, and I'm looking forward to our next reunion.

"Coach" J. C. Dorman

Photo signed by Cleveland Browns player Johnny Brewer, whom Dorman coached.

Eulogy for Coach Dorman, (born February 26, 1926- died June 7, 2014 )

by Melvin Oakes, June 11, 2014, Vicksburg, MS

We are here today to honor, to mourn and to celebrate the life of Coach Dorman, or as over 1000 young men and women referred to him, simply “Coach.” You did not need to be an athlete to embrace and use that name when addressing James C. Dorman. I always loved to hear Dot refer to him by his New Testament name, “JC.” As a young boy, I only heard her use that name. Her love, admiration and devotion earned her the right to do so.

Along with a number of you, I have known Coach since he came to Redwood in 1949. Though I was a boy of only 13, like many others of all ages, I recognized the measure of this extraordinary man and set as a goal to be like him. He was a quiet man of many talents, not only could he coach, he could perform in all sports at a very high level. A number of us will remember him sinking 75 free throws in a row one afternoon in the Redwood gym to demonstrate a shooting technique. Growing up, one of the longest home runs that I ever saw was hit by him on a Sunday afternoon at Redwood in the shade of that magnificent pecan tree while playing on my father’s team.

His coaching record speaks for itself. He produced many memorable men’s and women’s teams in all sports. And while these athletic accomplishments are an important part of his legacy, I would suggest that they are dwarfed by the impact he had on the personal lives of legions of young men and women.

Were I forced to limit this eulogy to one word it would be “Decent.” That word I think will remain etched in the hearts and minds of all who knew him. His was a human decency that was innate, it was natural; he didn’t have to work at it. My brother Donald asked me yesterday if I had ever heard Coach use a bad word? Does “darn it count?” If not, then my answer was likely the same as yours. “No.”

As I watch some coaches today rant, rave and verbally abuse their athletes and justify it by suggesting it is the only way to get high performance, I shout at the screen, “Well those who knew Coach know that is not the only way.” I never saw him berate a player; never did he humiliate a player or deflect criticism by blaming his players. We loved him, we respected him, we trusted him, and we knew he was giving us his best and wanted only the best for us. In turn, we gave him our best. These are lessons for life that we saw in his classrooms, on the playing field and in his private life. We took them into our homes, on to the little league field and into our workplace. They can and did serve us well.

Coach accomplished much in his life, and kindness rather than rancor was his currency.

In the last few days I find myself, and no doubt you also do, becoming teary eyed as I am suddenly reminded that he is with us no more. Coach would say, “Don’t be embarrassed, it's ok.” and it isOKk because Coach says so.
His passing will leave a wide hole in our lives. It is a hole that we can never completely fill; we will just have to somehow work around it. Remember Coach gave us the tools to do it. He taught us to be good winners and to be good losers as well. Knowing Coach made us all winners. We will miss him and humanity will miss this principled man.

Audio Version below: (to be added)

 

John “Dukie” Harris, apparently friend of Coach Dorman from Mississippi Southern University and Vicksburg.

 

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