My sincere condolences to Jon's family. I graduated with Jon from Portage Central High School. I was stationed at Phouc Vinh in Vietnam when I received a letter from my mother stating that the Portage Hearld had an article that Jon was deployed to South Vietnam. I had a good friend who was a helicopter pilot and asked him if he could find out where Jon was stationed. Fred Berry kept flying in and stated he had not located Jon even though he was flying all over in Vietnam. One day I was with a friend walking to the village outside our base camp and ran into Jon outside of the main gate. Needless to say he was stationed at the same base camp flying out of the Medivac Hospital at Phouc Vinh. We spent some off hours together when available, but they were limited. Through the years since we talked but never had the opportunity to get together. I have respected his dedication and friendship and the memories will be with me forever. May God Bless and I hope we will meet you again.

Posted by Robert Stokes on October 5, 2025