Montpelier, VT On May 14, 2017, James Francis Facos (Jim), 92, of Montpelier, passed away peacefully at Central Vermont Medical Center surrounded by his loving family. Born in Lawrence, MA on July 28, 1924, son of Chris and Theresa (McAdam) Facos, Jim was raised in Springfield, MA. In 1943, Jim joined the US Army Air Corps and became a ball-turret gunner on a B-17 Flying Fortress (Silver Lady). From his base in England, he flew 30 combat missions at the height of the air war over Germany and Central Europe—from Berlin to the crew's final run on 'Installations in France' (Normandy), 5 June 1944. Jim received the Air Medal with three oak leaf clusters, and the Distinguished Flying Cross at the age of 19. Based on his combat record, specifically operations related to D-Day and the liberation of France, Jim was recently named Chevalier in the Ordre National de la Legion d'Honneur by the president of France. Following his military service, Jim graduated from Bates College with an A.B. in 1949, and then attended Florida State University, where he received his M.A. In 1956, he married Cleo Chigos, and three years later with their first child in tow, they moved to Montpelier, VT, where Jim was hired to teach English at Vermont College. Jim's teaching career spanned three decades, first at Vermont College and then at Norwich University. Jim retired from Norwich in 1989, at which time he was appointed Professor Emeritus and Norwich conferred upon him the honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters. Throughout his career, Jim was recognized for his academic contributions, including Who's Who in American Education, The Directory of American Scholars, and Who's Who in Child Development- Professionals. Although Jim identified primarily as a teacher, he was an active writer throughout his life, writing in his spare time for the lark of it. He was an accomplished poet, dramatist, and novelist, with works including the WWII air novel The Silver Lady, Collected Lyrics (poetry), numerous plays, most recently Mountains in My Stride, and works of short fiction. Jim's writing garnered many awards, and his papers are housed at the Mugar Memorial Library at Boston University. It is through his writing that his spirit truly shines. Jim had enjoyed his family, music, reading, wood-walks in Hubbard Park – and eight years or so after retirement as a volunteer Red Coat in the ER of Central Vermont Hospital. Jim was a founding member of the American Air Museum of Duxford, England, and a member of the 8th Air Force Historical Society. Locally he was a member of the American Legion, DAV, and VFW Post 792. Jim is survived by his wife of 60 years, Cleo Facos of Montpelier, his three loving children, Theresa (Tina) and her husband Michael Casolo of Woodside, CA and Darien, CT; Elizabeth (Joy) Facos of Montpelier; and Anthony (Tony) Facos and his wife Shelley, also of Montpelier. He was the grandfather to Grace and Caroline Casolo, Courtney (Hidook) Shay and Mark Shay of Atlanta, and Nathan Hidook of Montpelier. He was also the great-grandfather to Jackson and Penelope Shay of Atlanta. A memorial service will be held on Thursday, May 18, 2017 at 11:00 am at Bethany Church, 115 Main Street, Montpelier. A committal service will be held at the Vermont Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Randolph, VT on Thursday, June 1, 2017 at 9:00 am. Gifts in lieu of flowers can be made to The Veterans' Place, 220 Vine Street, Northfield, VT or Bethany Bowl, c/o Bethany Church, 115 Main Street, Montpelier, VT 05602.