About
The Author
John Howard. Pierson Jr. was born on May 30, 1939 in Harrah, Oklahoma. He acquired his early schooling in Harrah, Woodward, Gage, Putnam City, Muskogee, Britton, Owasso, and Oklahoma City. His senior years, grades 8, 9, 11 & 12 were completed in John Marshall High School while his sophomore year was completed in Owasso.
John was a walk-on football player at Oklahoma University in 1957 and transferred to Cameron University for a football scholarship in the fall of 1958. He was honored as an All American for the 1959 football season and was awarded a scholarship to the University of New Mexico in the spring of 1960 where he was a team co-captain of the 1961 Aviation Bowl Championship team. His formal education resulted in an Associate Degree in Civil Engineering from Cameron in 1960; a Bachelor’s Degree in Education from the UNM with a Mathematics Teaching Certification in 1963, and a Master’s Degree in Education and Psychology from American University of Puerto Rico in 1972.
After retirement from the Marine Corps, John was able be of service to others in charitable organizations for children and enjoy a peaceful family life as a husband, father, uncle, and grandfather. And, after being introduced to, and by the Grace of God, having found sobriety, became a mentor for those seeking the same.
John has faced a lot of ups and downs in life. He dealt with severe depression, heartbreak, alcoholism, and suicide attempts when his first love, Judy, whom he married when both were 19 years old, left after four years. Nearly seven years later, while still suffering from this and other failed relationships, the love of his life taught him the difference between “loving” and being “in love,” in a forever relationship which lasted only 38 years, when she passed away.
MEMORABLE LIFE EVENTS
- 28 All Conference Tackle, John Marshall High School, Oklahoma City 1957
- Football Scholarship to Cameron Junior College, Lawton, Oklahoma – 1958
- Married Highschool & OU Classmate Judith Alice Hodson – December 28, 1958
- 66 Cameron JC, All American Tackle, Coach Leroy Montgomery – 1959
- Graduated Cameron Junior College, Civil Engineering – December1959
- Football Scholarship to University of New Mexico, Coach Marv Levy – 1960
- 82 UNM End/Captain for Aviation Bowl Champs, Coaches Weeks & Rust – 1961
- Lost Judy – divorced me and married her boss – December 7, 1962
- Graduated UNM Bachelor of Education, State Math Certification – June 7,1963
- Married the beautiful Veronica R. Romano in Puerto Rico – June 30, 1969
- Tara Laine Pierson born May 5, 1970
- Graduated American University, Master of Arts Education/Psychology – 1972
- Crashed OV-10 and killed my best friend, Major David R. Shore – July 9, 1974
- John Howard. Pierson John H. Pierson III born July 1975
- Introduced to Alcoholics Anonymous spring 1983 – Sobriety Date June 1, 1983
- Became California Real Estate Appraiser – 1986, Certified License – 1990
- Formed company CREA 1990
- Hosted JMHS 1957 Class 50th Reunion – 2007
- Lost Roni with complications of Thyroid Disease and COPD, December 29.2007
- Found and dated Heather Spoliansky in 2008 and moved together – 2010.
- Retired from & closed CREA – 2011
- Resting on Laurels – 2011 to Present
- Working on a book to be published – 2023
MARINE CORPS SERVICE CRONOLOGY
- Joined USMC Reserves – November 1959
- Completed Marine Corps Officer Candidate School – July 1962
- Completed Army Airborne Jump School, Ft. Benning, Georgia, Class II – 1962
- Commissioned 2nd Lieutenant. USMC Reserve, SN 087870 – June 14, 1963
- Assigned to U.S. Naval Flight School, Pensacola. Florida – July 15, 1963
- Augmented to Regular USMC & Promoted to 1st Lieutenant – December 1964
- “Winged” – Graduated Naval Aviation Flight School – April 24, 1965
- Deployed – 1st Vietnam tour H-34D Helicopter Pilot – August 1965
- Designated Helicopter Aircraft Commander in H-34D – 1966
- Return to CONUS – November 1966
- Promoted to Captain at HMMT 302 at MCAF Santa Ana – December 1966
- Designated Instructor Pilot in H-46. – 1967
- Assigned to OV-10 Training Program – 1967
- OIC of 1st 6 OV-10’s shipment to Philippines for Det A flight to RVN – May 1968
- Deployed – 2nd Vietnam tour OV10A Bronco Pilot/TACA – 1968
- Served 4 months with Korean Marine Blue Dragon Brigade, 1st ANGLICO – 1968
- Returned 6 OV-10 Aircraft to Okinawa due to RVN drawdown – 1969
- Assigned Liaison Commandant of USMC to Commander Fleet Air Caribbean – 1969
- Returned to Conus, MCAS New River, Jacksonville, NC – December 1972
- Selected for Major 1972 delayed due to the end of RVN War – January 1973
- Assigned Maintenance Department Head at Bronco Squadron, VMO-1 – 1973
- Maintenance Department set Navy & USMC Aviation Status Record 21Up for 21 days – 1973
- Set World Aviation Straight Line Distance Record – OV-10 Bronco – July 5, 1974
- Assigned Commanding Officer Headquarters/Maintenance Squadron 29 – 1974
- Assigned Executive Officer – Air Wing Transport Squadron 17, Japan – 1975.
- Return to CONUS assigned to Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton – 1977
- Assigned MCB Command Liaison to San Onofre Nuclear Plant – 1978
- Retired – Major, United States Marine Corps – October 1, 1981
My Recent Books
