John was born 20 Nov 1914 on the family farm east of Napoleon, North Dakota. John attended Napoleon Public School and completed the 8^th grade in 1928. He later earned his GED diploma. He worked on the family farm and part-time in the Miller Café, Napoleon, ND. Later he worked at the White Café in Mandan, ND as a part-time cook. He also did some farming during this time. He served as a cook at the College Inn Coffee Shop, Portland, Oregon for five years prior to his military service.

John entered the US Army 21 May 1942 and was released with an Honorable Discharge 21 Dec 1945 from the Separation Center, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. He served three years and seven months with the rank of Technicians Fourth Grade, Noncommissioned Officer.

John left Napoleon for Fort Leavenworth, Kansas for two months of Infantry Basic Training and remained at Fort Leavenworth for one year where he escorted troops to various parts in the United States on troop trains (including one trip to Salt Lake, Utah, three trips to Florida, two trips to Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri, and Georgia. He missed his bus for Ft. Leavenworth and was stranded for one day). John had additional schooling in Aircraft Sheet Metal Aviation Industries, Inc., Wichita, Kansas for two months, 1942.

He came home on leave and then was reassigned to the Asiatic Pacific Theater with the 267^th Ordinance Maintenance Company (anti-aircraft) where he served on full-time guard duty. He left San Diego, California on a ship with his company for Brisbane, Australia. He remained in Australia for approximately three months with the 267^th Ordinance Maintenance Company. The company was then shipped to New Guinea for reorganization for combat.

From New Guinea, the company was shipped to Lehte Island that was occupied by the Japanese. John had his first encounter with enemy bombers when they bombed his unit. He recalls one casualty. John remained with his unit on Lehte Island until WWII ended. John contracted malaria while on Lehte Island. The Ordinance Company was shipped home, arriving on the West Coast in segments since the ships were not large enough to bring the entire company back at the same time.

From the West Coast, John came back to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, where he was released from active duty 21 December 1945, and returned to Napoleon, North Dakota.

John’s military awards and decorations include: