JOHN J. RODGERS
Home Of Record:
GLOUCESTER
County:
Camden
Status:
Killed In Action
Rank:
PFC
Branch Of Service:
Marines
Country Of Incident:
SVN
Date of Casualty:
January 15, 1967
Date of Birth:
May 25, 1947

 

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.

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 (PFC). 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.

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 were held at McCann Funeral Home; followed by a burial in New St. Mary’s Cemetery.

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

Sources: Teresa Rodgers (mother) and NJVVMF.


Gloucester Youth, 19, Coatesville Man Die In S. Vietnam Fighting

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.

Article taken in part from The Philadelphia Inquirer of January 18, 1967. The other marine mentioned in the article was LCPL Floyd T. Flowers of Coatesville (PA).




MESSAGES LEFT ON THEWALL-USA

** Note that some of these messages are from years ago and their contact information may not be good anymore **

Ren Della Porta
Bobby, I think of you often, you have a son born in April 67, the month you were killed, a good looking boy, who has done well in life, A fellow Nam Vet.
Sunday, July 25, 2004


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