John T. Everett

Rank: Second Lieutenant, U.S. Army

Serial: O-526247

Unit: 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division

Entered service from: New Jersey

Died: June 8, 1944

Awards: Purple Heart, Silver Star

Second Lieutenant John Thomas Everett was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on July 21, 1922. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Albert H. Everett. In 1930 Mr. Everett was managing a dental company, and the family owned a home at 308 Chestnut Street in Haddonfield. They later moved to 431 Washington Avenue, Haddonfield. He graduated from Haddonfield Memorial High School in 1938, where he had been on the football team.

John entered Rutgers University in September 1939, graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business in May of 1943. While at Rutgers, John was a member of Delta Kappa Epsilon, where he became secretary and eventually president. He was a member of the football team, the crew team, Targum, and the Rowing Club. In Scarlet Key, he served as both secretary and treasurer. John also acted as a Chapel Usher, Student Council secretary, and senior class vice president. He was inducted into both Crown and Scroll and Cap and Skull.

John Everett entered military service on March 15, 1943, and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant on September 15, 1943. He graduated at the top of his Officer Candidate School class at Fort Benning, Georgia, and received additional training at Fort Jackson. He served with Company E, 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry, 4th Division during the Normandy invasion.

John was killed on June 8, 1944, when he attempted to accept the surrender of a German position. The German soldiers had no intention of surrendering and fired upon him when he came in range. His unit returned fire and destroyed the position. His commanding officer later wrote in a letter to Rutgers University that he “never served with an officer who surpassed Lt. Everett in a sense of duty and in moral and physical courage.”

John was awarded the Purple Heart and the Silver Star. He was initially buried in France, at Sainte-Mère-Église Cemetery, and his remains were brought home after the war. He was survived by his parents, and a sister, Ensign Mary Jane Everett of the United States Navy.