John died August 11, 2009. He joined the Army in 1937 at age 17 and as was assigned to the Schofield Barracks on December 7, 1941, where he saw the Japanese planes fly over on their way to Pearl Harbor. He was wounded in the leg by a stray bullet.

John later joined the 101st Airborne and jumped into Holland during Operation Market Garden. He was later involved in the Battle of the Bulge and received the Bronze Star. When the war ended in 1945, he was the first man to be discharged on points—time in action and service.

John jumped the 1946 season at Cave Junction where he packed all the parachutes for the unit that year. His boss, Cliff Marshall, were in the same battalion in the 101st Airborne. John made eight jumps in the Airborne and 12 with the Forest Service.

He returned to Denver, attended business school, and worked as a traveling auditor. he was Chief Accountant for the Colorado State Treasury Department for 14 years. After retiring, he opened his own income tax practice.