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James B. Heins Jr. graduated from Wofford College in Spartanburg, South Carolina with the class of 1938. He was connected with the Merita Baking Company of Charlotte.

He landed with the first convoy in North-Africa on 8 November 1942, also participted in the invasion of Sicily and took part in the entire campaign in Western Europe.

He died from wounds, received when the tank was hit by an anti-tank gun. Members of his crew took him out of the tank and into a basement where other wounded were. He was injured internally and even though given first aid but died shortly thereafter.

He was awared the Silver Star Medal three times. One of the citations cited: For gallantry in action against the enemy on 20 August 1944 in France. During this action, Capt (then 1st Lt) Heins, as the covering force commander for the 3rd Battalion, preceded the battalion in a cross country advance of approximately thirty miles, many times leading tha advance in his own vehicle. On six different occasions when enemy resistance was met, Capt (then 1st Lt) Heins promptly and vigorously employed his force of light tanks, mortars and assault guns, many times directing the operations on foot in the face of heavy enemy fire. As a result of Capt (then 1st Lt) Heins aggressive action, the battalion reached its objective daily and destroyed six enemy trucks, two command cars, one trailer, one motorcycle, four machine guns, for bazookas and captured more than eighty prisoners.

He is remembered at the Zion United Methodist Church Cemetery in Blythewood, Richland County, South Carolina.