Korean War Veteran
John Delaney
1926 - 2014
Interviewed by:
Hunter Finch and Alex Knight
John Delaney, 1946
John Delaney, 2005
"'Oh, have you been someplace?' And you've been gone for a year and a half,
pretty near... yeah, I've been someplace."
~ John Delaney, 22:09
Name:
John Delaney
Date of Birth / Death:
June 21, 1926 -
January 30, 2014
Branch of Service:
11th Paratrooper
Dates of Service:
1944 - 1948
Location of Military Service:
Korea
Current Residence:
Harwich, MA
John Delaney's Story:
John Delaney's service was a tale of two tours. From the relaxed, community-service style of Okinawa to the frozen, hellish pit of bodies and tears that was Korea, Mr. Delaney was subjected to the full spectrum of human experience. His tour in Japan spanned the four years between 1944 and 1948. Then, he was called to serve his country once more in Korea.
John Delaney's specialty was leading platoons of men; he was entrusted with the lives of hundreds. Being the pillar of courage and strength he embodies, John Delaney also flew in gliders and performed aerial jumps for extra hazard pay.
In the heat of battle, Delaney was wounded three times, earning him three purple hearts. With this experience under his belt, our hero led an honor guard along with several other wounded veterans. To this day, Mr. Delaney carries bits of shrapnel as a sharp reminder of his daring deeds.