| James Suh was a Petty Officer Second Class (QM2) in the United States Navy SEALs. |
| He was part of the SEAL Team Ten of the SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team One (SDVT-1) during Operation Red Wings in Afghanistan in 2005. |
| James grew up in a family with financial struggles. |
| His sister Claudia described him as shy and reserved during his childhood. |
| He excelled academically and participated in advanced student classes and sports like swimming and tennis. |
| While in college, he joined the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC). |
| James had an interest in mathematics, science, and initially aspired to become a veterinarian before joining the military. |
| He volunteered to join the US Navy in 2000. |
| Suh underwent training at the Great Lakes Naval Training Center in Chicago in January 2001. |
| He completed basic military training in March 2001 and received additional Quartermaster training until May 2001. |
| James pursued becoming a US Navy SEAL by joining the Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) program. |
| He also trained as a paratrooper at the United States Army Airborne School in Georgia. |
| In 2002, he completed SEAL Qualification Training and received the SEAL trident badge. |
| After training in Swimmer Delivery Vehicle (SDV) and SEAL Sniper School, he joined SDVT-1 in Hawaii in 2002. |
| In 2005, he was deployed to Afghanistan for Operation Enduring Freedom with his team. |
| Assigned to locate a Taliban leader in Kunar Province, the team faced a perilous mission. |
| During the operation, James and a team were sent to assist under heavy enemy fire. |
| The CH-47 Chinook helicopter carrying Suh and special forces crashed due to enemy fire. |
| His remains were recovered during a Combat Search And Rescue mission. |
| James was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart and Bronze Star medals. |
| He was buried in Los Angeles with full military honors. |
| Memorials were installed at the University of Florida and in Cupertino, California, honoring his memory. |
| James legally changed his name to James Erik in tribute to his late friend Erik. |
| He maintained a close relationship with Erik's mother, even calling her "mom." |
| Suh expressed gratitude to his father in a heartfelt Father's Day letter. |
| He enjoyed playing with G.I. Joe action figures and skateboarding with friends. |
| James had a strong bond with Navy SEALs Axelson, Luttrell, and Murphy. |
| In the film Lone Survivor, actor Rich Ting portrayed James Suh. |
| A memorial near Deerfield Beach High School commemorates his sacrifice. |
| Challenge coins honoring James were created after his death and sold online. |
