For the fourth time in the course of the last few months, I had to bid final farewell to someone close to me.

John was an extraordinarily kind hearted man who always had a warm smile and handshake to offer. He was the sort of person whom one could wake up in the middle of the night when in trouble, and I never doubted that he would lend a helping hand — no matter what. John was a man for whom honor and integrity were sacred. Not only did he possesses these virtues, but he embodied them.

John was an American patriot, but he loved traveling and exploring the world. Forever curious and deeply interested in history, languages and world cultures, John traveled to over 20 countries on almost every continent. He climbed the pyramids of Egypt and on the Yucatan Peninsula as well as the Great Wall of China. His last travel adventure lead him to visit war memorials in Washington D.C., Pusan, Korea, Nagasaki, Japan and finally, Vietnam. On most of his journeys, John was accompanied by his wife Marie.

John was born on November 1, 1935 in Masonville, Arkansas. He died, as a result of cancer on December 27, 2009. We interred his body at Inglewood Park Cemetery in California.

Reinhard Kargl

Journalist and media professional currently based in Los Angeles, California. Focusing on science and technology.