John was born on February 22nd 1995 in Scranton, Iowa. He was the 5th child of 10 children. John attended Boone High School and worked as a farm hand before joining the military. John joined the Army Air Force in September of 1943 and served 28 months in the south pacific as a radio operator and top turret gunner. He was with the 30th bomb group, 38th bomb squadron. While there he operated VHF sets in use for long distances for air to ground communication by voice and from plane to plane. He also had other duties. John was released from the Air Force on December 19th 1945. After his tour in the military he became a master brick mason and contractor for the next 40 years. He built over 100 churches which are still in use today. On a lite note, when John entered the Army Air Force, an officer told him to sign his john henry on certain line. John followed the officers command and wrote John Henry Lee as he was told. The officer was quite upset with John until he found out that was his real name.