Submitted by: C/2LT Chance Gaillard

Omaha Central High School Eagle Battalions JROTC held a ceremony on Friday the 11th for the renaming of a nearby street to James Fous Avenue. The JROTC program at Central spent over a year working on renaming the street, which all culminated into this event. James W. Fous was an Omaha Central graduate in the class of 1964 and he sacrificed his life in Vietnam. He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his sacrifice and was inducted into the Central high Hall of Fame.

While on a reconnaissance mission in Vietnam on May 14th. 1968, James Fous leaped onto an enemy grenade intended for the members of his unit. By absorbing the blast with his body, he sacrificed his life to save the lives of the three comrades with him on patrol. For this act of conspicuous gallantry and extraordinary heroism, he was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor, the nations highest military honor. While at Central James participated in baseball football, O-club, and Outdoorsman club. He attended Omaha University where he majored in business and was active in Tau Kappa Epsilon before joining the U.S. Army in 1967.

James passed away in 1968 at the age of 21.

(All photos of event taken by C/2LT Chance Gaillard)

Attendees of the renaming stand for the pledge
Master of ceremony, C/CPT Fernando Rodriguez-Serrano speaks
Opening remarks by C/MAJ Vel Par
Guest speaker Principal Mrs. Kirksey
Guest speaker President of City Council and Central Alum, Pete Festerson
Guest speaker Central Alum, Merle Rambo
Guest speaker Fred Tisdale of American Legion Post 1
James Fous’ sister pulls off the cover of the new sign
James Fous Avenue Street Sign
James Fous Avenue
Sister of James Fous holds the new sign
Color Guard prepares to enter the event, commanded by C/2LT Zander Miller
James Fous right before deployment in Hawaii, it was in a camera returned to his mother after he was killed. His mother gifted him the camera before he deployed.
James Fous’ high school yearbook photo, class of 1964

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