John Anthony Halladay

Private First Class John Anthony Halladay was born on August 24, 1946, to Mr. and Mrs. Charles Halladay. His family lived at 3 West Cedar Avenue in Merchantville, NJ. He had four sisters, Mary Ann, Susan, Shirley and Helen. John was a 1964 graduate of Woodrow Wilson High School in Camden, NJ. He continued his education at Lebanon Valley College in Annville, PA, where he played varsity basketball, graduating in 1968. He majored in biology and wished to become a teacher.

John A. Halladay was inducted into the United States Army on September 25, 1968 and arrived in Vietnam on July 4, 1969. Halladay was assigned to E Company, 5th Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Air Cavalry Division, operating about 100 miles northwest of Saigon. He attained the rank of Private First Class.

Private First Class Halladay was killed in action on September 14, 1969 in Phuoc Long Province, South Vietnam.

He was awarded the Purple Heart. John Anthony Halladay is honored on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial on Panel 18W, Line 82.

Jack was my radioman

Jack was a great guy. He was my squad radioman. I loaned him to Lt. Thomas that week in September because the platoon RTO was on R&R. He didn’t want to go at first but then got to liking it because he didn’t have to pull guard duty at night. He thought that was a hoot. He and Lt. Thomas gave me the thumbs up as they pulled out on that recon mission. I’ve always wondered if things would have been different if I hadn’t sent Jack to the lieutenant. He was a great soldier and a good friend. His loss was terrible for all of us.

— Walt Rowsey, Wilmington, Ohio — October 16, 1997

I was just one of the students of LVC who was also in Bio classes with Jack and Cliff. The war seemed so far away, yet so near and we were so young and so frighteningly aware of what was going on. Today is Memorial Day. My husband served too, but he came home. I still ache for Jack and the years of life he missed.

— Judy Tanger (friend, Sewell, NJ) — May 28, 2007