Milligan, John J. Jr.

Description

John James “Jack” Milligan was born on July 16, 1928, in Buffalo, New York, son of John Jay and Elizabeth (Bissel) Milligan. He had two sisters Barbara and Elizabeth. At age 5 his family moved to Rye, N.Y., where Jack grew up. In Rye his family lived at 311 Milton Road and were members of the Presbyterian Church.

Jack was a Rye High School Graduate, Class of 1945. He graduated from Rye High School at the age of 16, a year early because he attended summer school, enabling him to enlist on his 17th birthday, with parental permission, in the United States Marine Corps.

Enlisted In Marines
Jack Milligan, son of Mr. and Mrs. John J. Milligan of 311 Milton Road, enlisted in the U. S. Marine Corps July 20, his seventeenth birthday. A graduate of Rye High School in June, he is now stationed at Parris Island, S. C
August 3, 1945 THE RYE CHRONICLE PAGE NINE

He served and saw combat with the First Marine Division, Rifle Company, World War II. He was wounded at the Battle of Okinawa. After recovery, he was assigned Captains Orderly on a troop ship that transported American G.I.’s home from Europe back to the States and then returning German prisoners of war back to Europe.

Honorably discharged Jack enrolled in Syracuse University, N.Y., graduating class of 1951 on the deans list.
He was recalled by the Marine Corps, sent to Officer’s Candidate School and deployed to Korea as a lieutenant.

During the Korean War, he served once more with the First Marine Division, Rifle Company. He was co-commander of a company of 250 Korean Marines that he assisted in training and led in combat on the West Coast of the Kimpo Peninsula. He also saw action at the Battle of the Chosin Reservoir.

In 1958, Jack was honorably discharged with the rank of Captain. View Discharge Record

As a civilian, he worked for Burlington Industries, Hosiery Division as a sales/marketing manager, traveling extensively to accounts cross country. Health problems caused him to retire prematurely. Jack loved the beach, swimming, was a sports and music buff, and loved nature and all animals.

John J. Milligan, always called Jack, 82, died Sunday, March 28, 2010 at the Kaplan Family Hospice House in Danvers.

Surviving Jack is his longtime companion, Eve Anderson Kopel of Topsfield; his beloved children, Patricia Ann Milligan Taylor of Crystal Lake, Ill., and Peter Michael Milligan of Haverhill; his six grandchildren, many nieces and nephews; and cousin, Raymond P. Chadwick and his wife Madelyn of Tully, N.Y.

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