The day after John’s 19th birthday Pearl Harbor was attacked. He enlisted in the Army Air Corps in 1942 to train as a pilot, but due to a shortage of candidates in basic training he transitioned to navigation and received his wings as an Army Air Corp Navigation officer. Stationed in Tezpur, India from 1944 to 1946, John navigated 35 missions in B-24 Liberator bombers converted to fly gasoline “over the hump” to China and Burma, guiding his pilot using the stars, maps, a sexton, a compass, and Loran (Long range navigation, a hyperbolic radio navigation system developed during World War II) as their guide. The Army Air Corps separated from the Army in 1947 as the U.S. Air Force, John transitioned to the USAF reserves, and via the GI Bill earned a B.S. in Engineering at USC. In 1950 his reserve unit was called up for the Korean War. Stationed in Japan and Korea, John flew 73 missions in the Douglas B-26 Invader including on several hit by ground fire that sustained no major damage. Returning home, he served as a Radar Flight Instructor for the B-25 Mitchell bomber and re-entered the reserves to fly cargo transports on supply and training missions. John retired from the Air Force in 1975, remembers those who did not return from war as the “truest of heroes,” and meets regularly with veterans with whom he served who only ask that we “Always Remember” the sacrifices made. John’s medals include the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal, World War II Victory Medal, and Republic of Korea War Service Medal. John resides in Villa Park, at age 99 plays golf twice per week, frequently “shoots his age,” and is an exemplary member of the “The Greatest Generation.”