PAGE A16, KEIZERTIMES, MARCH 19, 2021
obituary
John R. Vierra
March 6, 1928 – March 8, 2021
John R Vierra was born March 6, 1928 in
Oakland, Calif. to John and Emily Vierra.
John passed away on March 8, 2021.
At the young age of 16 he joined the
Merchant Marines during WWII and
served aboard a merchant ship. John
received the Philippine Liberation Ribbon,
Pacifi c War Zone Bar and Victory Medal
for service in WWII. He received an
honorable discharge in August 1945.
On January 23, 1946 John enlisted
in the U.S. Marine Corps. His fi rst duty
station was in Hawaii where he was the
motor vehicle dispatcher. He received
the American Defense Service Medal,
American Campaign Medal WWII and
Asiatic Pacifi c Campaign Medal WWII. He
was honorably discharged in October 1947.
From 1947 to March of 1948 John worked
at the Atlas Diesel Company and then
March of 1948 to May 1949 he attended
Lamay Trade School, both in Oakland.
John joined the U.S. Army on May 9,
1949, in San Leandro, Calif. He was sent to
Atlanta, Ga. for Army Ordinance School in
October 1949. It was during this time that
he met the love of his life! On June 28, 1950,
he married Nannie L. Payton in Avondale
Estates, Ga. They had seven children
during the next 10 years. Their fi rst home
was in Colorado Springs, Colo. where he
JOHN R. VIERRA
was assigned to an engineer unit in Wheel
Vehicle Maintenance & Repairs. In 1952,
the unit was assigned to Salzburg, Austria,
where he was responsible for vehicle
maintenance during the building of Camp
Roeder. The couple's fi rst child was born in
Salzburg in 1953. He then received orders,
in May 1954, to report to Fort Lewis, Wash.,
where was assigned to the 498th Engineer
Battalion. In November 1954, he received
orders to Ford Ord, Calif. The fi rst job was
to build 30 miles of road from San Simeon
to Hunter Liggett Military Reservation.
In July 1956 John received orders to
go to Korea and was assigned to Camp
Saint Barbara. His assignment was motor
sergeant and later was assigned as the
1st sergeant. In January 1958, John was
again assigned to Fort Lewis where he
received training as a tank commander.
In April 1959, John was assigned to the
Army Advisory Group. In 1962, John
received orders for Germany. His wife and
fi ve daughters joined him and they lived
in Kitzigen until 1965. His one and only
son was born in Germany in November
1963. He received orders for Fort Lewis
and then amended orders to U.S. Army
Advisory Group in Salem, Ore. He was the
personnel sergeant and his jobs included
personnel records, payroll and advisor. He
was promoted to E8 Master Sergeant.
In 1968 John received orders for
Vietnam and was assigned to HQ MacV
as operation sergeant. He then requested
assignment to the fi eld and received orders
to TM9E, Bien Hoa as 1st sergeant. In
July 1969, John received orders to return
to Fort Lewis. He commuted from Keizer
to Fort Lewis weekly until his retirement
from the Army in 1970.
In November of 1970, John became a
mail handler with the USPS and then, in
April 1971, he became a letter carrier. He
retired from the USPS on March 6, 1990.
On July 4, 2015 during the Veterans
Celebration at Volcanoes Stadium, John’s
brother Joey Vierra was honored as a
Fallen Soldier. John threw the fi rst pitch
and his great grandson, Dax Fancher ran
the bases. John was extremely proud to
have been involved in this event.
In October 2015, John took part in the
Honor Flight to Washington DC. He was
so excited to be part of this event and was
so proud to have his grandson Matt Seely
along to share the memories. The visit to
the Vietnam Memorial Wall was painful
for John as his youngest brother Joey
Vierra was killed in Vietnam on March 2,
1967.
John, to say the least, loved playing
bingo at the Boys & Girls Club in Salem.
You could fi nd him there most any time
that the hall was open. He had many
friends there and loved the staff .
The love that John had for his family
showed in everything he did. He always
had something fun up his sleeve. From
grandkids scooping up money in their
hands at Christmas, to unwrapping a
present in a large box to fi nd many boxes
within and fi nally getting down to the
present, to special Easter eggs with money
hidden in them. He showed unconditional
love, taught us loyalty and integrity and
life lessons along the way. He was truly
our hero.
John’s wife, Nan passed away in
November 2011. He said that was the
saddest day of his life. He also lost four
of his seven children prior to his death,
Betty, Jean, John and Linda. His surviving
children are, Chris Seely, Pattie Toepfer
and Cindy Smith (Dave). He was an
amazing grandfather to 10 grandchildren
and 16 great-grandchildren. This amazing
man will truly be missed by all.
Viewing will be from 1 to 2 p.m. on
March 20 at the Keizer Funeral Chapel,
4365 River Road North in Keizer.
Celebration of Life will be family only on
March 20. Private graveside service will
be at Willamette National Cemetery on
March 22.
Submit an obituary
by sending an email to:
kt@keizertimes.com
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