James Wainwright was a Human male who served in the United States Armed Forces during the 20th century. He was born in 1917. (TOS novel: From History's Shadow) As a child, he was an avid reader of the numerous science fiction stories featuring Captain Proton, Flash Gordon and Buck Rogers. He also read the novel The War of the Worlds. (TOS - Strange New Worlds III short story: "The Aliens Are Coming!", TOS novel: From History's Shadow) He retained his interest in science fiction into his fifties. (TOS novel: From History's Shadow)