4Sep1917 – 17Jun1945
Edison Days
John graduated with the Class of June 1935. He was a member of the Senior Boys Club
Military Service
Rank: Captain
Branch: United States Army
Unit: 382nd Infantry Regiment – 96th Infantry Division
John enlisted in the Minnesota National Guard prior to the start of World War 2. He was a member of the 34th Infantry Division.
In mid-1940, with war raging in Europe and the threat of U.S. involvement growing, the 34th Infantry Division underwent “precautionary training” as one of the more ready National Guard units. The division was federalized and activated for federal service on February 10, 1941. In April 1941 the division moved by rail and convoy to Camp Claiborne, Louisiana for intensive training to build skills in infantry tactics, weapons, and cohesion.
The division participated in the large-scale Louisiana Maneuvers (August–September 1941), involving Second and Third U.S. Armies, where it performed well and demonstrated readiness.
After the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and U.S. entry into WWII, the division initially guarded sensitive installations in the South.
As the first U.S. division selected for overseas deployment to the European Theater, elements began moving in early 1942 bound for Belfast, Northern Ireland. The entire division was in Northern Ireland by the end of May 1942 and the next several months were sent rigorously training for combat. In September 1942, Sergeant Wilson and 13 other soldiers were selected for officer training and send back to the United States.
John ended up attending officer training at Fort Benning, Georgia where he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in January 1943.
John likely joined the 96th Infantry Division after he was commissioned. The 96th spent most of 1943 and the begging of 1944 in Oregon and Washington training for deployment to the Pacific Theater. In July 1944 they went to Hawaii for an additional 3 months of specialized training in weapons and tactics needed to take on the Japanese.
On 20Sep1944 John and the 382nd Infantry Regiment entered combat on Leyte, the Philippines. After 2 months of intense combat, Leyte was declared secure on Christmas Day 1944. The unit spent an additional 7 weeks on tactical duties before being relieved on 10Feb1945.
The next 6 weeks was spent refitting, re-equipping, absorbing replacement personnel, and training for their next assignment.
The 96th Infantry Division departed Leyte on 27Mar1945 and on April 1, they participated in the invasion of Okinawa. The beach landings were unopposed as the Japanese chose to defend the rugged interior of the island. Throughout April and May John’s regiment was heavily engaged in brutal, close quarters combat against entrenched Japanese positions.
At some point during the battle a Japanese soldier surrendered to John.
By mid-June, the division was engaged in the assault on the last major Japanese defensive stronghold in southern Okinawa: the Yuza-Dake / Yaeju-Dake Escarpment. The area was fortified with caves, tunnels, artillery, mortars, and machine guns.
June 17 proved to be a pivotal day as John’s regiment was involved in intense fighting.
The U.S resorted to close-quarters combat involving flamethrowers, demolitions, grenades, and tank-infantry teams to seal bunkers and reduce positions.
By the end of the day the Japanese had been driven from the escarpment. It was on this day that John was killed in action by shrapnel from a Japanese grenade or artillery fire.
John was originally buried in a temporary military cemetery on Okinawa.
In 1949 his remains were returned to Minnesota for reburial.
John is buried at Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis, MN.
Postscript
John was employed by the Minneapolis Star and Tribune prior to joining the Army. In 1947 the newspaper dedicated a bronze plaque to the 8 employees, including John, who died in service during the war.
Edison Heroes 