James
Michael Alan Curry-Long
Biography
Page Last Updated: 04 February 2005
This biography is put together from as many sources as I can
piece
together - letters and e-mail from James, Lorretta, and what official
reports I have in my possession.
JAMES m
Usage: English, Biblical
Pronounced: JAYMZ
English form of the Late Latin Jacomus which was derived from Iakobos,
the New Testament Greek form of Ya'aqob (see Jacob).
In the New Testament James is an important apostle, the brother of the
apostle
John. According to the Book of Acts he was beheaded by Herod Agrippa.
Another
James is also mentioned in the Bible as being the brother of Jesus.
Kings of
England and Scotland have borne this name.
Hebrew - one who supplants
MICHAEL m
Usage: English, German, Czech, Biblical
Pronounced: MIE-kul
From the Hebrew name Miyka'el which meant "who is like God?".
This was the name of one of the seven archangels in Hebrew tradition
and the
only one identified as an archangel in the Bible. In the Book of
Revelation in
the New Testament he is portrayed as the leader of heaven's armies, and
thus is
considered the patron saint of soldiers.
Hebrew - who is like god
ALAN m
Usage: English, Scottish
Pronounced: AL-an
The meaning of this name is not known for certain, though it possibly
means
either "little rock" or "handsome" in Breton.
Celtic - handsome, cheerful
Harmonious. Noble.
Biography
1988
He was born at 10:30 in the morning, 27 April 1988. He was the fourth child of Lorretta, the first child of Patrick. He was born at Samuel Merrit Hospital, on Pine Hill, in the City of Oakland, County of Alameda, State of California. At birth, he weighed eight pounds three ounces, and measured 21 inches long. His mother named him James Michael Alan Curry-Long. His father was not present for his birth, or naming - Patrick was aboard USS Samuel Gompers (AD-37), on the other side of the world in the Indian Ocean, his ship anchored off the coast of Masiarah, of the Sultanate of Oman.
James and his mother went home from the hospital eight hours after his birth.
At one week, James was noted to have smiled for the first time.
8 June 1988, James was measured to be 11 pounds, 12 ounces and 22 1/2
inches. His Father voluntarily makes a notarized statement that
he acknowledges Lorretta's intent to file for annulment of their
marriage. It had been
determined in June of 1987 that
the divorce decree from Mexico was not valid. Lorretta and
Patrick separated since 12 December 1987. Patrick had not been
informed of Lorretta's pregnancy until January, by a third party.
On 3 July, 1988, James was blessed in the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-Day
Saints, in the San Jose 16th Ward - Morgan Hill Stake, Dunn Ward, in
Morgan
Hill, Santa Clara County, California. A friend of his mother,
John Carroll
Hendee performed the blessing with the assistance of Brothers Adrian,
Mathias,
and Pew. James was noted to
have first
laughed in July, and at his check-up he was 14 pounds, 12 ounces and 24
1/2
inches..
11 August 1988 - James meets
his father for the first time after USS Samuel Gompers returns from
Western Pacific Deployment.
1 September 1988 (at five months), his first tooth erupted. He was now 16 pounds, 8 ounces and 26 inches. He and his mother took to traveling - flying by plane from Oakland, California, to Norfolk, Virginia with a layover in Chicago, Illinois. From Norfolk, they went up to Washington DC, where they visited the National Capital, The White House, Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, Imajama Memorial, Vietnam Monument and Arlington Cemetery, and in Maryland visited the LDS Temple.. As a part of this same trip, James and Lorretta traveled to West Virginia, North Carolina, and Ohio. In Ohio, they visited with Patrick's family.
In October 1988, he started trying to talk, "ya-ya-ya" and "ba-ba" being his words of choice, and also started in on solid foods. At his check-up, he measured 18 pounds.
In November of 1988, he started crawling, as well as sitting by himself. He was 18 pounds, 8 ounces and 27 1/2 inches.
1989
On
1 April 1989, James took his first steps. He was at 21 pounds, 2
ounces
and 35 inches.
12 June 1989 - Lorretta files
suit for the annulment of her marriage to Patrick, as well as for
custody of James. 23 August, the marriage was nullified, and
Lorretta was awarded custody of James.
29 June 1989 - based on
neighbor complaints, the Child Protective Agency of Contra Cost County
conducts an unannounced visit. Lorretta receives several admonishing
remarks about her housekeeping and the condition of the children.
7 August 1989 - another CPA visit. Upon report for this visit, it is noted that prior complaints exist from Alameda County, Sacremento County, and Solono county in regards to both James and his brother Josiah.
10 August 1989 - a final visit from Conta Costa CPA.
12 August 1989 - James and family move to San Jose, to live with his Grandparents.
1990
October - Lorretta and James move to Government Quarters on Naval
Station, Treasure Island.
James' brother Peter was born.
1991
On 24 April 1991, a Treasure
Island maintenance worker observed Lorretta using profanity towards one
of the Weeces children, and striking her on the head and face with a
pair of jeans. Base security was called, and investigated.
Security found the home to be
in a deplorable condition - to the point that the family was interiewed
outside.
All children in the household
were removed, and transported to a shelter. While in the shelter,
it was noted that one of the siblings had serious bruising on both
legs, as well as on the upper body.
Josiah was released into his
father's custody. The Weeces children were released to their
father. On 29 April, James was released from the shelter to his
father Patrick, and went to San Diego.
20 May 1991 - Lorretta
returns to Contra Costa County, and files suit to regain James'
custody. 25 May, she is escorted onto the Fleet Anti-Submarine
Warfare Training Center, Pacific, in San Diego, with a United States
Marshal, with a court order for Patrick to turn James over to
her. Patrick complies with the court order, with many
reservations.
31 May 1991 - Patrick files
his response to Lorretta's suit, seeking to regain custody of
James. Throughout the custody hearings, James remains with
Lorretta.
During one visit to Lottetta's parents in San Jose, James was outdoors
playing
as she washed dishes. James disappeared from view, and was not
heard, so
she went out to check on him. Outside, she heard him giggling...
and it
cam from above herr head. She looked up, and saw James sitting on
the roof
of the house, where he had used a ladder (left by his
Grandfather).
Lorretta convinced him to come down in the same manner as he got up.
After the birth of his sister, Rebecca, James took it upon himself to
be a good
"Big Brother". She had started crying, and he carried her to
their mother... completely upside down. Lorretta says he had her
in a
completely secure hold... just upside down.
August/September 1992 - James is given a psychological evaluation over series of sessions, being referred for it by a pediatrician at Packard Children's Hospital.
1993
[estimated timeframe] James moved to Ogden, Utah. James went to a special education pre-school at Taylor School. He was bussed to and from the school. He went to Grandview Elementary for Kindergarten. He was placed in a regular education class. Lorretta felt this was not in his best interest, but did not know how to contest the matter.
On day, while assisting his mother, James tripped over a cast-iron bubblegum machine, and put a cut on his forehead.
On hot summer day, James went around plugging in fans for cooling as his mother washed dishes. His mother's room was the last fan to be plugged in. She heard him scream and turned to see James, with his hand blackened from a fire. After placing his hand under cold water, she went to make certain the fire was out (my interpretation of the matter was that there was an electrical problem). Lorretta called the hospital for direction, and was instructed to bring James into the Air Force base hospital. James was diagnosed with second and third degree burns on his right hand. for three weeks, he was taken for daily checks on his hand. James' hand healed with no scarring to be detected.
Right after Halloween, James came down with Chicken pox - as did his sister, Rebecca. James did not completely heal from his affliction until about a few days before Christmas. Because of the need to care for the children, presents had not been gotten. However, on Christmas Eve, there came a knock on the door - James and Rebecca opened the door, and with wide eyes saw Santa Claus paying them a special visit. From this thoughtfulness, James' love for Christmas and helping others grew.
1994
For first grade, James was transferred to another school Shortly thereafter, he started acting out. Lorretta did not discover why until after they had left - it turned out that the teacher was hitting him any time he was not paying attention. Lorretta had asked for testing, but says they did not completely test him.
Once, at Club Heights, one of the children teased James with the typical "your mother wears combat boots". One afternoon after doing military honors, she picked James up while wearing military uniform... complete with combat boots. She was understandably surprised to see one of the children run from her, crying, as she was (then) unaware of the teasing. After James explained the situation, she and James enjoyed a good laugh.
At about age 7, James got stuck in a tree at home. Just before the fire department was going to be called, the LDS missionaries showed up. One of the elders took off his suit jacket and climbed up the tree to guide him down. That event did nothing to keep him out of trees.
1995
James moved with his family from Ogden, Utah to Marshalltown, Iowa. They moved into an apartment that was in a converted old farmhouse on Church Street. Shortly after James started as the school, he bolted from the classroom. He saw a woman, and called out "Grandma! Grandma!" It turned out that his step-Grandmother Weeces was a volunteer at the school. The teacher, worried about James, followed after him. She was relieved to find that it was not a case of mistaken identity. After his grandmother escorted him back to the classroom, James apologized for running out of class. James' teacher informed Lorretta to share the humor.
The family later moved into a small house, three houses away from the school. The winter of 1995-1996 was described by Lorretta as a "bad winter". There was a time period that the high fo the day was 20 degrees below zero. Lorretta tried to justify driving him to school, but for such a short distance decided she could not.
In second grade, James joined the Cub Scouts. James loved Scouts.
James was once again tested, since he was not reading. The diagnosis that came back was James had Attention Deficient Hyperactivity Disorder, and was placed on Ritalin.
1996
26 May 1996 - James was baptized as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. His baptism was performed in the Marshalltown Ward, Ames Stake. Lorretta noted that there had not been a baptism in that building for a long enough time that there were concerrns that the font even worked (it did).
The family moved to Imperial Beach, California. They lived there for James' third grade. While living in Imperial Beach, James was outside, participating in a football game. During the game, James ran into a oriental wrought iron fence. Becky came into the house to tell her mother that James was bleeding. James had cut his forehead at the eyebrow.
1997
The family moved to Spring Valley, California
1998
March. Harry Griffith Park. While visiting the park, A family friend (John) took Peter to the restroom. While they were occupied, James saw a kite stuck in an eucalyptus tree - and decided to rescue it. Well, he had his legs over one branch, and his feet on two lower branches as he tried to free the kite. The branches his feet were on broke, and there he was stuck in a tree again - only this time about sixty feet up! The fire department was called, but the first truck could not rescue him because of the length of their ladders and the soggy ground conditions. So the truck called a "cherry-picker" unit. The firemen got him out of the tree, and then went higher than the tree. When Lorretta asked them why, she was simply told that they thought he wanted to see the tops of the trees, so they decided to accommodate him.
In May, James got into a little "tiff" with some other boys. As his mother described it, "It was not a big thing. Their father went off the deep end. He choked James in primary, James left with marks on his neck. I made a police report. But nothing was done. I refused to go back to that ward. With time my records, were moved into a different ward."
After this incident, Lorretta states that James was never the same. He had more problems with school. So, he was placed into a special education program at La Presa Elementary.
23 July 1998 [Lorretta's journal excerpt]:
"My heart is full of gratitude for the many blessings, I have received this week. On Sunday, half way through sacrament meeting, James started acting tired - and a tiny bit warm. This was not to the point of worry for me as a parent yet. I did notice the difference between my normally active boy and this quiet boy lying on my lap resting. After sacrament, James wanted to go to primary so I let him go. In an hour, James returned to me, saying he did not feel well.
We asked the Missionaries to give James a blessing. They found an empty classroom, as the door shut the spirit of the room changes. The spirit was strong and over powering. The missionaries administered to James him, I felt the spirit strongly and felt as if I was being administered too. It felt as if I was being hugged in a nice safe big bear hug, if felt wonderful as just James was blessed with a wonderful blessing. And as that room door opened, the special warmness I felt - left. I still felt calm and knew my son would not get worse."
1999
James could be a mischievous and ornery child at times. Sometime during fifth grade, James didn't wish to do something his teacher wanted him to do, so he went under one of their tall roll-away cabinets and hid. He loved his mother's stories of how she did practical jokes as a teen, and planned to copy some of them. The one he said he most wanted to do was to get into the principal's car and fill it to capacity with inflated balloons.
After finishing Fifth Grade, James went to Parkway Middle School, enrolled in their special education program.
2000
December - James' brother Peter had what his mother thought was chicken pox. James went with Peter, cradling him as his mother drove to the emergency room. Peter was diagnosed with scarlet fever. James helped Peter through it all - really helping during the blood work. James displayed great compassion for his brother while he was hospitalized.
2001
While on a camping trip with the Scouts, wild fires broke out near the camp. The camp ended up being emergency evacuated - they had 15 minutes to get out of camp. James came home in swim trunks, t-shirt and sandals, having been fishing at the time.
The family took a trip to San Francisco during December. While there, they visited a friend who apologized for not having a Christmas Tree. James reminded him that the tree itself was not important, but being together as a family.
2002
21 June 2002 - James graduated from Parkway Middle School.
James started Ninth Grade at Monte Vista High School.
James is noted as loving to help others. He would set up and break down the chairs for meetings. Often he set up his seminary class. He would often check the fluids in him mother's van, or even change a tire.
James went to an evening Seminary, because he could not do morning Seminary. He faithfully went to Seminary each Wednesday evening.
At fourteen, James faithfully set the sacrament table. Though often a "spitball fire of energy", when it came to his duties as a member of the priesthood, it was as though he were a different person - he would stay on task, and humbly complete it.
James always liked the girls. In April, just after his birthday,
he had
his first date. His date was Christina Hill, an "older woman"
eight months his senior. She was a year ahead of James in
school.
They seemed to enjoy each other's company. There was an adult,
usually her
mother, always accompanied dates. He brought her to church, and
(to
Lorretta) it was very apparent that Church was not a part of
Christina's
everyday life. She became more frightened when he left to do his
Priesthood duties with the sacrament.
October/November 2002 -
James' father, Patrick, transferred temporarily to San Diego for
military training, and both get to spend some quality time
together. Because of some educational problems, Patrick must
leave San Diego earlier than planned. He presents James with his
Christmas gits early - a brand new guitar to replace his aging
second-hand model.
On 5 December, Patrick drives east to Norfolk, Virginia.
2003
Still active in Scouting, James had made it to the level of First Class Scout. He was waiting until January to get Life. He loved the Scouting camps he attended. He was looking forward to attend the Mountain Man weekend activity the last weekend of September, as well as the Bonita fest parade.
He also looked forward to turning 16, planning to become a priest, as well at talking of going on a mission. He wanted to take French so he could go to France and teach there.
One of the channels for James' energy was reading - he loved to read. His favorites were Goosebumps and Harry Potter. As a Christmas gift the previous year, he had received a 4-volume set of Harry Potter, and completed reading them two weeks later. He also enjoyed the comic pages.
James became involved in the ROTC program - in pursuit of becoming an officer in the United States Air Force [een though it was an Army ROTC unit...].
In May, before a family trip, James was in Auto Shop class. He had placed tools in each pocket. There was an occasion for him to have to move out of the way in a hurry... and he found (to his dismay) that there is a good reason not to store tools in his pockets. He hit something, causing the tools to hit him in his groin. Fortunately for James, the result was only bruising.
Later that month, the family left San Diego on a flight to Chicago. It was a five-hour flight. From Chicago, Lorretta drove them in a hard rain to Ottawa, Illinois - a three hour trip vice the normal one hour. The next day, they drove to Cedar Rapids and then to Marshalltown, Iowa. There, they met with James' step-father, Stephen. They attended Stephen's graduation the following day. That Sunday, they attended the Marshalltown Ward. Throughout the sacrament meeting, James sat between Stephen and Lorretta... but made them hold hands.
Lorretta took James, Rebecca and Peter to Nauvoo, Illinois to see the restored temple of Nauvoo. James and his siblings loved it. Then, on Monday, they drove back to Chicago to fly back home to San Diego.
Lorretta remarks about the relationship between James and Christiana that gave her some "wonderful opportunities for discussion":
"The Relationship was not always smooth sailing, but after talking with James, helping him Discover his options, I would step back and see what he would decide. He would usually make the choice that was right. It was so hard to allow James to make his own decisions.
This was James' and Christina's first love. With the new discoveries and learning how to manage a relationship. They had their first fight - it was a miscommunication. They worked it out, and Christina gave him a tape with love songs and messages on it. We talked until 11:20 on the night of September 21, 2003."
For tenth grade, James had transferred to Mount Miguel High School. James would get up on his own at 5 am to attend seminary. Two weeks before school stated, he started the practice of getting up at 5am, going to the school usually on his bicycle, but sometimes running/jogging to keep working out for ROTC. On Monday, the 22nd of September, the alarms did not go off. Lorretta woke at six on her own. Not having heard James leave, she checked his room, finding the bed empty and the shed door left ajar. She said she felt good that he had gotten off on his own. At the same time, however, she noted that she needed to remind him to close and lock the door.
Unable to go back to sleep, she spent some time on her computer, reading her e-mail. Soon, there came a knock on her door. It was light out, and she thought perhaps it was a neighbor needing something, or maybe a friend of one of the children. She opened the door to find a California Highway Patrolman standing there. He asked if she was the mother of James. She answered yes. He informed her that she needed to go to Children's Hospital immediately because James had been in a hit and run accident. Lorretta asked what James' condition was... but the CHP officer did not answer, instead offering her a ride, while not insisting on it. So Lorretta did not feel that James had been badly injured.
As she made herself ready, the officer called and informed her that James was at Sharp hospital. When she finished dressing, she fixed up a box lunch for herself, Rebecca and Peter. Then off they went to the hospital on a foggy morning.
Once they arrived at the hospital, Lorretta instructed Rebecca to take care of Peter. She gave both children what money she had for the vending machines. She instructed Rebecca and Peter to wait in the waiting room and she would be come and get them as soon as she could. At the information desk, she identified herself and soon learned what a parent never wants to learn.
James had been mortally injured. He was declared dead 07:03am. He was buried on the first of October.
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