CPT James B. Conway (Posthumous Promotion to Major) was commissioned an Infantry Officer upon graduation from Infantry Officer Candidate School Class 2-57 on 12 March 1957. At the time he was Killed in Action he was serving with DET A-253 (DUC CO), B Company, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces as the Senior Special Forces Advisor to a reconnaissance patrol operating in the Ia Drang Valley, Republic of Vietnam. Captain Conway is listed as Missing in Action and Presumed Dead; his remains have never been recovered. CPT Conway was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for valor.

MAJ Conway's highest military awards include: Distinguished Service Cross (citation below), Purple Heart, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Ribbon, Combat Infantryman Badge.

DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS CITATION: For extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving with 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces. On 12 April 1966, Captain Conway was serving as the Senior Special Forces Advisor to a reconnaissance patrol operating in the Ia Drang Valley in the Republic of Vietnam. As the patrol screened their assigned area, they came under hostile automatic weapons fire which wounded several and halted their progress. After ensuring the safety of the wounded, Captain Conway led the friendly forces in an assault which routed the Viet Cong from their positions of concealment. As the friendly forces pursued the hostile contingent, they came upon a well-positioned insurgent force of company size. Despite the hostile force's numerical and positional advantage, Captain Conway led the patrol in successful attacks claiming many insurgent lives. With complete disregard for his own personal safety, Captain Conway courageously engaged a well-fortified insurgent machine gun position at extremely close range with grenades and small arms fire. Throughout this action, he continually exposed himself to murderous fire to ensure the success of the assault. When the Viet Cong maneuvered to encircle the hard-pressed patrol, Captain Conway planned and led an evasion route to regroup the force and continue the attack. As the hostile machine gun fire increased, Captain Conway again exposed himself to heavy Viet Cong fire and directed effective suppressive fire with effective results. During the final stages of the friendly evasive action, Captain Conway was mortally wounded while engaging friendly troops positioned about him. Captain Conway's extraordinary heroism and supreme sacrifice were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Army and reflect great credit upon himself and the military service.