31Oct1920 – 22Dec1942
Edison Days
John graduated with the Class of January 1939. He was involved in Hi-Y, Ushers Club, Glee Club, and he was a cast member in a comic opera as a Senior. He also played park board football.
Military Service
Rate: Radioman 2nd Class
Branch: United States Naval Reserve
John entered the Navy on 27Aug1942. He went through boot camp at Great Lakes Naval Station in Chicago, IL. After graduation, John was sent to radio school at Miami University in Oxford, OH.
On the evening of December 22, John was one of 400 sailors who attended a training film at a theater in Oxford. When the film was over, John and the rest of the men were jogging back to their quarters when a car plowed into their formation killing John and injuring several others.
John is buried at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Minneapolis, Minnestoa.
Footnote
The Navy convened a Board of Investigation after the accident.
The results of the investigation are unknown.
The man that struck John was indicted on manslaughter charges and went to trial. He pled guilty and was sentenced to 1 year of probation and his license was suspended for 60 days.
Edison Heroes 