[1][2][4] James was ordered to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, in February 1922 and served with local Marine Barracks at Naval Base Guanatanamo until June 1924.

[1] He was ordered for his second tour of expeditionary duty to Nicaragua in October 1927, but returned one month later to the United States after commanding detachment of Guardia Nacional in Chinandega.

James was subsequently promoted to the rank of captain and transferred to the Marine Barracks, Parris Island, South Carolina where he remained until summer 1929.

[1][2] In July 1929, James was appointed commanding officer of Marine detachment aboard the battleship USS Tennessee and participated in the patrol cruises in the Pacific Ocean.

James was succeeded by Colonel William W. Ashurst in August 1939 and returned to the United States for duty with Division of Reserve, Headquarters Marine Corps.

[5] Following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941, James was still stationed at Headquarters Marine Corps in Washington, D.C., and appointed as Military Secretary to the Commandant, Thomas Holcomb in March 1940.

[1][2] During the April 1942, commanding general of 1st Marine Division, Alexander A. Vandegrift, was looking for a new Divisional Chief of Staff as substitute for Colonel LeRoy P. Hunt.

Upon his return, James assumed command of Marine Corps Base San Diego, California, and had the opportunity to train the men who benefited from his experience during the Guadalcanal Campaign.

James participated in the Marianas Islands Campaign and subsequently was attached to Military Government command on Tinian as deputy chief civil affairs officer.

"[1][9] James assumed command of Forward Echelon, Fleet Marine Force, Pacific, on Oahu, Hawaii, and held this assignment until June 1945.