Lieutenant James Columbus Talley II was born in 1924 and grew up in Knoxville. After graduating from McCallie School, Talley attended the University of Tennessee. He went into the service with the Army Air Corps on April 6, 1943. After extensive training, Talley became a heavy bombardier in the 306th Bomb Group with the 8th Air Force in the European Theater of World War II. His group was one of the first bomb groups in England and the first to bomb Germany. Later, Talley was part of the invasion of Arnhem, otherwise known as Operation Market Garden. At the end of his service, Talley had flown in twenty-five missions. He miraculously survived jumping out of a burning plane with a faulty parachute, causing severe face burns and an ankle injury. Following the war, he returned to Knoxville where he engaged in a lifetime of business and civic service. He was married to Jean Fulton Talley (1924-2007). He passed away in 2015 and is buried in Knox County.