JOHN B. MORRIS, MAJ, USMC

John Morris '55

Date of birth: December 31, 1932

Date of death: January 10, 1968

Age: 35

Lucky Bag

From the 1955 Lucky Bag:

JOHN BUTLER MORRIS

Camp Hill, Pennsylvania

Baby John entered the cold gray walls with his eyes half shut. Opening them, he decided that the service sponsoring the green suits, rather than the standard blue, was his favorite. His friendliness and exquisite doodling won him the art editorship of the Trident. Next to drawing, he probably enjoyed a good cigar more than anything else. His ability to place a great distance between each foot distinguished him in all track events in which he chose to participate, but the Flying Squadron gained his most spirited offerings.

JOHN BUTLER MORRIS

Camp Hill, Pennsylvania

Baby John entered the cold gray walls with his eyes half shut. Opening them, he decided that the service sponsoring the green suits, rather than the standard blue, was his favorite. His friendliness and exquisite doodling won him the art editorship of the Trident. Next to drawing, he probably enjoyed a good cigar more than anything else. His ability to place a great distance between each foot distinguished him in all track events in which he chose to participate, but the Flying Squadron gained his most spirited offerings.

Loss

John was lost on January 10, 1968 when the C-54 transport plane he was aboard crashed near Mt. Tobin, Nevada; all 18 others aboard were also killed. He was Operations Officer, Amphibious Warfare Presentation Team, Marine Corps Schools, Quantico.

Other Information

From the April 1968 issue of Shipmate:

Maj. Morris was born in Philadelphia, Pa., and graduated from the Naval Academy in 1955. He completed flight training at the Naval Air Station, Corpus Christi, Tex., in 1958, and the Mountain Leadership and Survival Training Courses at Marine Corps Cold Weather Training Center at Bridgeport, Calif., in 1961. He had served with the 3rd Marine Division at Okinawa; the 1st Marine Division at Camp Pendleton, Calif.; the 3rd Marine Division, Vietnam; the 2nd Marine Air Wing, Cherry Point, N. C. While serving as the S-4 of the 1st Battalion, Third Marines in Vietnam he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal with combat "V," and had been awarded the National Service Medal with star, and the Armed Forces Expeditionary and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medals.
Surviving are his widow, the former Irene Pirochta of Owosso, Mich.; a son David 4, and daughter Carla 3, who have been living in Quarters 397C, Marine Corps Base, Quantico; his parents. Col. George W . Morris, USA (Ret.), and Mrs. Morris of 239N. 24th St., Camp Hill, Pa. 17011, and a sister, Mrs. Clarence W . McKee.

John was part of a "10-day Western tour from Quantico Marine Base in Virginia" to discuss amphibious landing tactics.

John is buried in Arlington National Cemetery. He was survived by his wife, Irene, son David, and daughter Carla. (Information courtesy of John's brother-in-law, John Pirochta, via email on April 23, 2018.)