Jim Sehorn was born in 1940 in Forest Grove, Oregon. He was commissioned through the Air Force ROTC Program at Oregon State University on June 2, 1963, and went on active duty beginning September 27, 1963. Lt Sehorn next attended Undergraduate Pilot Training with the 3526th Pilot Training Squadron, and was awarded his pilot wings at Williams AFB, Arizona, in October 1964. He then attended F-100 Super Sabre Combat Crew Training with the 4514th Combat Crew Training Squadron at Luke AFB, Arizona, from October 1964 to July 1965. His first assignment was as an F-100 pilot with the 77th Tactical Fighter Squadron at RAF Wethersfield, England, from August 1965 to March 1967, followed by F-105 Thunderchief Combat Crew Training from March to October 1967. Lt Sehorn began flying combat missions with the 469th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Korat Royal Thai AFB, Thailand, in November 1967, and he was forced to eject from his stricken F-105 over North Vietnam and was taken as a Prisoner of War on December 14, 1967. After spending 1,917 days in captivity, he was released during Operation Homecoming on March 14, 1973. After recuperating from his injuries, Maj Sehorn served as a C-141 Starlifter pilot with the 7th Military Airlift Squadron at Travis AFB, California, from June 1973 until he left active duty and joined the Air Force Reserve on October, 7, 1976. He then continued on as a C-141 pilot in the Air Force Reserve, serving with the 730th Military Airlift Squadron at Norton AFB, California, from October 1976 to March 1977, and then with the 729th Military Airlift Squadron, also at Norton AFB, from March 1977 to October 1984. Col Sehorn served as Operations Officer for the 729th Military Airlift Squadron at Norton from October 1984 to April 1985, and then as Deputy Commander for Operations for the 445th Military Airlift Wing at Norton AFB from April 1985 until he went back on active duty on September 15, 1987. His next assignment was as Air Force Reserve Advisor to the Commander in Chief of Military Airlift Command at Scott AFB, Illinois, from September 1987 to February 1990, followed by service as Director of Operations for 14th Air Force at Dobbins AFB, Georgia. Brig Gen Sehorn's final assignment was as Director of Operations for the U.S. Air Force Reserve at Dobbins AFB until his retirement from the Air Force in 1994. From January 2003 to May 2006, James served as the first Inspector General of the State of Georgia. He is married to the former Jo Hunt of Columbus, Georgia.

His Silver Star Citation reads:

This officer distinguished himself by gallantry and intrepidity in action in connection with military operations against an opposing armed force while a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam. Ignoring international agreements on treatment of prisoners of war, the enemy resorted to mental and physical cruelties to obtain information, confessions and propaganda materials. This American resisted their demands by calling upon his deepest inner strengths in a manner which reflected his devotion to duty and great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.