Submitted photoDr. Jim Story (left) is inducted into the Georgia Military Veterans Hall of Fame by District 15 state Sen. Ed Harbison. 

THOMASVILLE — Dr. James Llewellyn Story Jr., a Thomasville former U.S. Army physician, described as “unbelievable” his induction into the Georgia Military Veterans Hall of Fame.

Story was named to the Hall of Fame Class of 2020 for valor shown while serving in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War.

The Thomasville physician is one of 16 Georgia veterans evaluated and chosen for the honor by an independent selection committee and 10 Georgia veterans.

Story is among 131 Georgia veterans chosen — from 338 nominations — for the Hall of Fame since its inception in 2013.

Story was nominated by U.S. Army Col. (ret.) Howard Floyd, a Thomasville resident, who served 26 years in infantry, intelligence and staff assignments.

“It was unbelievable I was there,” Story said, in reference to the recent induction and unveiling ceremony at Johns Creek.

He said it was humbling to listen to accomplishments of other inductees.

Story had plenty of time to hear others’ accomplishments. Honorees inducted in alphabetical order. Story was last.

He listened for one and a half hours to what others had done.

“It was one of the most impressive ceremonies I’ve ever been at and certainly to be part of,” Story said.

In his role as battalion surgeon with the 1st Infantry Division in Vietnam, Capt. Story exhibited great courage while braving enemy fire to treat casualties and carry them to safety.

One of the most highly decorated soldiers, as well as combat physicians in the 1st ID, Story has been awarded the Combat Medical Badge, Air Medal, Purple Heart, two Bronze Stars and the Silver Star.

After completing medical school and an internship, Story joined the Army as a volunteer. Six weeks later, he shipped out to Vietnam in August 1966.

“It was my job to take care of the men in my battalion,” Story said.

He “never became involved” in whether the U.S. military should be in Southeast Asia.

Neither did Story ever think about being killed.

“I had thoughts about taking care of the next person,” the 81-year-old physician said.

Story was struck by shrapnel. He saw a medic, who survived, working beside him get injured.

“I never was afraid,” he said. “I thought the good Lord was taking care of me, and I was taking care of the men.”

Three men in his battalion became four-star generals. One was Alexander Haig, President Ronald Reagan’s secretary of state and chief of staff under presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford.

After leaving the Army at the rank of captain in 1968, Story, who grew up in Pelham and Sylvester, came to Thomasville in 1972, and established a medical practice. In 1997, he was named Archbold Memorial Hospital vice president of medical affairs and later, in 2000, Archbold president, a position he held until 2007, when he became Archbold president emeritus.

Today, he is chairman of the board of Georgia Partnership for Telehelp and the Global Partnership for Telehealth.