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Pfc James S. Kirchue graduated from Niagara High School in 1932 and was employed at the New York Central Rail Road.

He enlisted in Buffalo, New York on 19 March 1943. Pvt Kirchue attended Manhattan University where he completed a course in training. He also was stationed at Camp Shelby, Mississippi and was sent overseas in December 1944.

"Excerpt of a story told by Michael Kutzmonich": At day break, a couple of jeeps came out for us. Jim Kirchue was the driver in the one I was in. As soon as we got to the Company, a lieutenant told me to get a jeep and get the chow truck. When I came back, everyone was telling me I was lucky that I wasn't there. While I was gone, two guys in civillian clothes told the lieutenant that there were some Germans up the road that wanted to surrender. They said they were Polish. Lt Lawrence was looking for me, because I could speak their language. He wouldn't wait for me, so the lieutenant and Jim Kirchue and a few others went to see these Germans. They were all killed in an ambush.