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JOHN D'AURA, Jr, was born at Ft. Totten,
NY, the eldest son of a well-respected career
enlisted Army photographer. John’s father
was one of the last photographers to start
putting away his gear following the takeoff of
the Hindenburg at Lakehurst, NJ. Therefore,
he was one of the first to take photos of the
tragedy when the dirigible caught fi re. John’s
father’s constant exposure to chemicals resulted
in lung problems for him and led to
his retirement shortly before the attack on
Pearl Harbor.
John’s family then moved to San Diego,
CA, where his father worked five acres of land
on a 160-acre farm, and where John was kept
busy doing chores. John attended San Diego
schools and graduated from high school
there. He was an excellent student and did
so well in high school that he was considered
for West Point. He further prepared himself
for the Academy by attending San Diego
State Teachers College, now San Diego State
University, for one year. The year at college
also allowed him to meet the minimum age
requirements for West Point.
After completion of Beast Barracks, John
was assigned to Company K-1. During Plebe
year, John never had problems with academics,
the fourth class system, or the tactical
department. He never had to “walk the area,”
and he excelled in academics all four years.
John, with his sunny disposition, was always
willing to help classmates who were having
trouble with academics. John’s easy success
in the classroom gave him more time for his
hobby: writing opera. He also participated in
the Camera Club, the Chess Club, and the
Pistol Club, and worked on the Howitzer staff
for two years.
Upon graduation, John chose Air Defense
Artillery. After completing the Officers Basic
Course at Ft. Bliss, TX, and Airborne School
at Ft. Benning, GA, he was assigned to the San
Francisco area. There, he met his future wife,
Patricia, who was working in the accounting
department at AT&T. On 18 Aug 1956,
John and Patricia were married near Patricia’s
family home in Patterson, NY, in the church
where her father was the church organist. John
and Patricia eventually had six children: three
boys, John, Paul, and Henry; and three girls,
Elizabeth, Catherine, and Jeanette.
John had a distinguished military career, assigned
to posts in the United States, Germany,
and Korea. In 1966, he served in Viet Nam as
an Army/Air Force liaison, arranging air strikes
and different degrees of planning and evaluation.
Although he would never admit it, John’s
exposure to Agent Orange in Viet Nam may
have led to family health problems. During
his career, John earned the Commendation
Medal, the Bronze Star, the Meritorious
Service Medal, and the Legion of Merit. He
retired in 1980 as a lieutenant colonel.
Ever the family man, John then moved
his family to Patterson, NY, to help take care
of his father-in-law. After his father-in-law’s
death, he moved the family to Las Vegas to be
closer to his own mother, who passed away
in 1986.
John pursued many interests during retirement.
He was a teacher’s assistant at the
University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and later became
a military history teacher there. He supported
his wife’s and children’s various activities
and helped his wife look after the family.
On 12 Apr 1999, John passed away.
He is buried in the Veterans Cemetery near
Henderson, NV. John, you are sorely missed
by family and friends. It can certainly said,
“Well done, be thou at peace.”
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