AMERICAN BATTLE MONUMENTS COMMISSION

John J. Rodgers

Private First Class, U.S. Marine Corps

2283586

Company K
3rd Battalion
1st Marines
1st Marine Division

Entered the Service from: New Jersey
Died: January 15, 1967
Buried at: New St. Mary's Cemetery
Bellmawr, New Jersey

Awards: Purple Heart

Left: John J. Rodgers boot camp photo from Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, Platoon 1020. He earned the title �U.S. Marine� on September 7, 1966.

JOHN JOSEPH RODGERS was born on May 25, 1947, to Teresa and James Rodgers. His home of record is Gloucester, NJ. He had four brothers, James, Joseph, Jeffrey and Jerry. John graduated from Gloucester High School in 1965.

John enjoyed track, baseball, football and basketball. He also liked swimming and dancing.

John J. Rodgers enlisted in the US Marine Corps after having worked for the Bell Telephone Company in Philadelphia, PA. He attained the rank of Private First Class. John completed his boot camp training at Parris Island, SC. He received advanced training at Camp Lejeune, NC. He served in the 1st Marine Division.

Private First Class Rodgers was killed in action on January 15, 1967. He died as a result of fragmentation wounds sustained from a hostile mortar round while in a defensive position.

Services for John J. Rodgers were held at McCann Funeral Home; followed by a burial in New St. Mary�s Cemetery.

Private First Class Rodgers received the Purple Heart, the Gallantry Cross/w Palm, National Defense Service Medal and Merit Award.

The Philadelphia Inquirer - January 18, 1967

Two Delaware Valley Marines were killed in action in Vietnam on Sunday, the Defense Department reported Tuesday.

Pfc. John J. Rodgers, 19, the son of Mr. and Mrs. James E. Rodgers, of 419 Cumberland st., Gloucester, N.J.

Rodgers, one of a family of five boys, died when a mortar round exploded near him in the vicinity of Da Nang.

Rodgers, who joined the Marines last July after having worked for the Bell Telephone Co., of Philadelphia, was a 1965 graduate of Gloucester High School. He was with the 3d Battalion, 1st Marines, serving as a rifleman.

Rodgers was the son of an RCA model maker in Camden. A brother, James P., 20, is in the Air Force in Little Rock, Ark. His other brothers are Joseph, 14, Jeffrey, 10, and Jerry, 4.

The above excerpts are from an article The Philadelphia Inquirer of January 18, 1967. The other marine mentioned in the article was Lance Corporal Floyd T. Flowers of Coatesville, Pennsylvania.