Lt. Col. James “Jimmy-Pat” Pat Kizer was a Marine’s Marine.

That’s what those close to Kizer said about the long-time Atmore resident recently. Kizer died at 82 on July 4, 2017.

Kizer, who served in the U.S. Marine Corps for 23 years, grew up in Atmore and was a community staple, serving in many civic organizations. He worked at what is now Regions Bank, and graduated from Escambia County High School in 1950.

Kizer attended Auburn University and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in agriculture.

Those close to Kizer knew that agriculture wasn’t on the table as far as a career option.

“Right after college, he went straight into the Marine Corps,” Kizer’s son, James Jr., said. “He was initially enlisted until he completed offer training school.

“I remember him telling me that (joining the Marine Corps) was his dream,” he said.

Kizer was commissioned a second lieutenant in December 1955, and was stationed at Naval Air Station Pensacola Florida for pre-flight training. Two years later, he received his aviator wings.

As a fighter pilot, Kizer was in the first Marine squadron to land in Vietnam in early 1962, and commanded the last evacuation of Saigon.

During the early days of the Vietnam War, there wasn’t a need for Marine jet pilots.

Kizer, a captain by then, began helicopter training in Key West, Fla., in 1963, and later transferred to Marine Corps Air Station New River in North Carolina.

Close friend and fellow Marine helicopter pilot, Bert Krages, said he met Kizer a number of years into his service.

“Jim was a Marine’s Marine,” Krages said. “Marines are a little different. He was a stickler for doing things the Marine way.”

Krages has many stories about his time with Kizer.

“We were in the same squadron together many years ago,” he said. “We were both captains at the time. We had a commanding officer that was a lieutenant colonel. When a commanding officer comes walking into a room, people come to attention.

“He used to always insist you keep your seats,” he said. “Jim, at the time, took him aside one day and said, ‘Colonel, we don’t like doing it that way. You’re the boss.’ He picked him up mentally. That’s just one example of many. He was definitely not a slacker. He got after whatever the job at hand was, and got it done.”

Krages recalled a famous family story of how he and Kizer were in a sticky situation.

“We were out on a medevac mission with an H-34 helicopter,” Krages said. “We get called to this zone to do a pick up. Some Marines had been in contact and had several wounded.”

Krages said they landed in the pick up zone, but no Marines came because they were avoiding gunfire from the Viet Cong (VC).

“We were sitting in this zone, and Jim’s in the right seat and I’m in the left seat,” he said. “There’s a berm to our left, and it is raised and has a railroad track sitting on top of it. The VC were about 120 yards in the trees from the helicopter shooting at us.”

Krages said he was almost hit by a bullet that missed his “butt” by about 3 inches.

“I said, ‘Kizer, let’s get the hell out of here!’ He looked at me and gave me that Kizer look. He lifted the helicopter and turned it around and put it on his side (so that he would receive the gunfire.)

“He told me, ‘would you shut the blank up?’” he said.

James Kizer Jr. said for many years, Kizer would tell it the other way around.

“My dad said he was taking all of the fire,” he quipped.

Kizer’s work ethic and can-do attitude helped land him many awards and commendations while a Marine.

Kizer received the Distinguished Flying Cross, 32 Marine Corps Air medal awards, the Navy Commendation Medal and the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal, Pistol Expert badge and the Rifle Expert badge. Kizer served as an aviator for 23 years and retired from the Marine Corps in 1978.

Upon returning to Atmore, Kizer began a long and distinguished life as a banker and civic-oriented citizen.

He was the president of the Atmore Rotary Club, served as president of the Atmore Area Chamber of Commerce, was a member of the Atmore Lions Club and was named a member of the Atmore Area Hall of Fame. He also served as secretary of the Atmore Country Club and chairman for the Escambia County Emergency Medical Services Committee, the Atmore Industrial Development Committee and the City of Atmore Personnel Board. He worked as the assistant to the mayor for administration, plans and personnel and worked as the branch manager of Regions Bank before fully retiring in 2000.

Additionally, Kizer served as the commander of Atmore’s Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 7016; was a member of the American Legion, the Military Order of World Wards and other Marine Corps organizations.

James Jr. said Kizer was especially proud of being involved in the development of Rotary Village.

“He was one of the leaders in pulling that off,” James Jr. said. “That was one of his prime projects. He worked hard to put that together; just the coordination and building of it. He was very happy about that.”

James Jr. said he’ll always remember his dad and his quick laugh.

“He loved people,” he said. “He made numerous friends. He wanted you to come over and sit down, share a cocktail and laugh and joke with folks of all ages.

“I’ve had more people come up to me and say your father was like a second father to me,” he said. “Of course, he was my father, but I’m glad he had that sort of relationship with other people that felt so strongly about him.”

Steve, Kizer’s middle child, said his father was all about family.

“Family came first,” Steve said. “He would do anything for family members. Even for my mother’s extended family.

“Even though my mom passed away, he kept up the tradition of the calls and birthday gifts, and a little bit of an allowance,” he said.

Steve also was in the military. He served 23, 16 years of which were enlisted. He served seven years as a captain in the U.S. Army National Guard. Michelle, his wife, was in the National Guard as well.

“He was there for us for whatever we needed,” Steve said about his father. “He was there for moral support and professional support.”

One memory that Steve will always cherish was the time he was commissioned.

Kizer commissioned Steve, who was commissioned as a second lieutenant at the time.

“He actually read the commission and oath and put on my second lieutenant stripes,” he said.

Above everything, Kizer loved being form Atmore.

“He loved the people here,” James Jr. said. “He wouldn’t have traded it for the world. He had all of the places he could’ve gone after he retired rom the Marine Corps, and he came back to Atmore, Alabama because he loved it.

“He wouldn’t move for anything,” he said.