James V The Poet…

His Story…

James V the Poet is an active-duty U.S. Navy Diver and indie author based in Honolulu. His debut poetry collection, Purple Rose: The Stars Carry Her Name – Letters from Me to Her, is raw, unfiltered, and rooted in love and loss. His honesty turns memory into art, letting grief comfort readers as his pen speaks plainly on the page.

Before joining the Navy, James served as a civilian Search and Response Diver with the National Academy of Police Diving, reinforcing his lifelong commitment to service and resilience. In recognition of that commitment, he received the prestigious Red Cross Lifesaving Award Certificate and Medal of Merit, endorsed by the President of the United States — an honor that underscores his dedication to protecting and serving others.

His service extends beyond the military. James has earned multiple Presidential Volunteer Service Awards for thousands of hours of volunteerism across nonprofit organizations. His work includes serving as a Department of War Sexual Assault Victim Advocate, a CPR and Basic Life Support Instructor with the American Red Cross, and ongoing involvement with the USO. He also represents the We Defy Foundation in Hawaii as an ambassador, supporting combat veterans through Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

Through diving, service, and poetry, James continues to weave resilience and authenticity into everything he does — a thread that defines both his life and his writing.