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From an early age, John wanted to be a soldier
and a warrior. He dreamed of attending
West Point, becoming an Infantry officer,
and leading troops in combat; through dedication,
hard work, and sacrifice, he achieved
his goals. A valiant and aggressive fighter, perhaps
his most courageous battle was against
Parkinson’s disease, which claimed his life.
JOHN GREGORY ECKHARDT was born in
Orange, NJ, to Dr. Ralph A. Eckhardt and
Dr. Marie F. Gregory. The family spent many
summers in Landgrove, VT, establishing a
lifelong connection to the area for John.
After graduating from Hackley School in 1950,
John entered West Point, where he joined
Company L-1. He was a member of the varsity
soccer and wrestling teams for four years and
was named to the All-American pistol team.
He won the individual Intercollegiate Pistol
Championship in 1954 and anchored the
team that won the national championship
that same year. Roommate Lou Wagner’s
most vivid memories were of John returning
to their room after a wresting meet or practice,
his skin raw and red from mat burns, his
every movement an effort, but still a smile
on his lips. He never complained or boasted;
he just loved to compete. Classmate Dick
Hobbs remembers, “John was my ‘buddy’ in
Ranger School, and one could not have asked
for a better one … he was just full of energy
and enthusiasm.”
After graduation in 1954, John continued
to remain active in competitive shooting.
As a lieutenant, he was named to the All-
Army team, twice competing in the national
matches at Camp Perry, OH. He maintained
his interest in firearms and weapons for the
rest of his life.
John had many fond memories of his time
at West Point. He enjoyed his classmates in
particular, and used their stories to entertain
and educate his family, friends, and students.
When they could, John and his family
returned to the Academy to watch an Army
football game, visit the museum, watch the
Corps parade, and catch-up with old friends.
John, an Airborne and Ranger qualified
Infantry officer, served as a platoon leader
with the 82d Airborne Division and as a
captain in Germany. After completing his
active duty commitment, John returned
to Vermont, where he married Lynn E.
Andersen of Weston, VT. In 1959, they
moved to Florida, where John worked as a
school teacher and their first child Lisa was
born in 1961. In the same year, he completed
Special Forces training, thereby earning his
coveted green beret. John then attended the
Navy’s Underwater Demolition School in
Key West, becoming one of the first, if not
the first, soldier to complete the training.
In 1963, the family moved to Manchester,
VT, where John worked as a teacher at Burr
and Burton Seminary. When informed of
John’s passing, student Bud Harrigan wrote
an article for the school paper. An excerpt
read, “I was deeply saddened to hear of John’s
death. I suspect this is also true for most of
the BBS students that knew John. He made
a teacher/student connection that was rare,
relating as both an instructor and as someone
truly concerned with the individual.” The
Class of 1966 dedicated their yearbook to
him, stating in part, “Mr. John Eckhardt, one
of Burr and Burton’s youngest teachers … an
appreciated teacher, advisor, and friend.”
John had a lifelong love of soccer. He
started soccer programs at Burr and Burton
and subsequently at the Flood Brook Union
(elementary) School in Londonderry, VT.
True to his nature, John was coaching the
Burr and Burton boys’ soccer team to their
first-ever win when his second child John
Gregory was born in Bennington in 1963.
John also started the school’s wrestling
program and remained at BBS through 1966,
when he felt the call of duty and reentered the
active military.
John was seconded to the CIA in Southeast
Asia. Before his departure in 1967, their third
child, David, was born in Bennington. While
overseas, John was twice wounded in combat
and later decorated by the King of Laos for his
services as an advisor to the military governor
of Saravan Province in Laos. He also earned
the Parachutist’s Badge of the Royal Lao
Army and additional memorabilia from the
Lao soldiers with whom he served. The latter
was probably more important to him. A
fellow officer reported that John was a legend
among the natives. His Lao troops loved and
respected him because he personally fought
alongside them.
When John and his family returned
from Southeast Asia, John began working
for himself as a land surveyor, using his
West Point engineering degree. In 1971, the
family moved from Manchester to the family
home in Landgrove. While there, John
remained physically and mentally active,
challenging himself by participating in long-
distance cross country ski races, teaching
alpine skiing at both Bromley and Stratton
ski areas, and playing soccer. He started the
Londonderry “Muskrats” soccer team and
was a player-coach when the team won the
state championship in 1980. He was selected
as director of the new Stratton Mountain Ski
Touring Center, which he successfully ran for
more than a decade. During this time, John
was on the national board of the Professional
Ski Instructors of America and received
an honorary lifetime membership for his
contributions to the sport. Additionally, he
wrote several articles for nationally published
magazines on subjects from cross country
skiing to the war in Viet Nam.
John’s survivors include his wife Lynn;
daughter Lisa Eckhardt McNealus of
Landgrove; sons Greg Eckhardt of Poultney,
VT, and David Eckhardt of Suffield, CT;
sister Suzanne Morgan of Williamsburg, VA;
and four grandchildren, Cooper and Leyte
McNealus of Landgrove, and Peter and Elsa
Eckhardt of Suffield.
Following a memorial service at the Zion
Episcopal Church in Manchester, VT, John
was buried with full military honors at the
Landgrove Cemetery on 13 Nov 2005. He
will continue to be missed as a husband,
father, friend, mentor, and coach.
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