James Sidney  Rylee was born on April 24, 1941 to Michael and Mildred Rylee  who lived in Glenmore, Pennsylvania.  

James graduated from Octorara High School in 1959 and worked at the Christiana Machine Shop and Lukens Steel before entering the Army on August 22, 1966. 

James started his first tour on August 15, 1967 as part of B Company, 1st Battalion, 50th Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade. He was assigned to vehicle repair.

Spec. 5 James S. Rylee was killed during combat on May 11, 1968 in a fire fight in Bing Dinh Province, South Vietnam. 

In a letter dated two days before his death, James stated that his company had been called to help Company A which had been nearly exterminated near Phu My.

James was awarded the Purple Heart posthumously. He is buried at Lang Croft Cemetery Linwood, Delaware County.