1st Lt. John Thurman Warner Jr. was born in Oak Park, Illinois, on August 24, 1919, to Dr. John T. Warner Sr. and Vera C. Rowder-Warner and resided in Maywood and later at 503 Circle Avenue, Forest Park, Illinois. He attended Garfield School, Maywood, and Grant-White School, Forest Park, and was a 1937 graduate of Proviso Township High School. During this time, in 1934, his father died. After high school, he went to the University of Illinois, Urbana/Champaign, where he earned his degree in 1941. During his time at the U. of I., he joined the US Army Reserve, registered when the Selective Service Act took effect on October 16, 1940, and he received a commission in the US Army Reserves on April 21, 1941, and was assigned to intelligence and reconnaissance. HIs serial number was O1 290 690. After college, he worked at Johnson & Johnson, in Chicago, married Mary Ellen O’Connor, and resided at 300 Maplewood Road, Riverside, Illinois, where his family had moved.
He was assigned to the 22nd Infantry Battalion, 4th Infantry Division. It is known he trained at Fort Benning, Georgia, Camp Gordon, Georgia, December 27, 1941; Fort Dix, New Jersey, April 16, 1943; Camp Johnston, Florida, September 28, 1943; Fort Jackson, South Carolina, December 1, 1943; Camp Kilmer, New Jersey, January 8, 1944, where he remained until the 18th when it moved to the New York Port of Embarkation and sailed for England arriving there on January 29, 1944. His unit was stationed near Plymouth, England and prepared for the D-Day Invasion. While he was at Camp Kilmer, in January 1944, his wife gave birth his daughter.
On D-Day, John’s unit was assigned to land on Utah Beach. During the assault the landing-craft he was on hit a mine and he suffered shrapnel wounds in his legs and was hospitalized in Normandy.
His wife received a telegram from the War Department.
MRS MARY WARNER
56 FOREST AVENUE
FOREST PARK ILLINOIS
REGRET TO INFORM YOU YOUR HUSBAND FIRST LIEUTENANT JOHN T WARNER WAS WOUNDED IN ACTION SIX JUNE IN FRANCE YOU WILL BE ADVISED AS REPORTS OF CONDITION ARE RECEIVED=
WITSELL ACTING THE ADJUTENT GENERAL
Records show that John died from his wounds on August 4, 1944, and on the 7th was buried, in a shelter half, in the United States Military Cemetery #1, Marigny, France, in Plot B, Row 7, Grave 131. His grave was marked with a wooden cross with one of his government issued identification tags attached to it. His other ID tag was buried with him.
His wife received another telegram, on August 21, 1944, stating he had died from his wounds.
During this time, Mary Warner remarried, on October 3, 1945, and was now living in Augusta, Georgia. The Office of the Quartermaster General was unaware of her marriage and sent a letter, dated October 2, 1946, to her about John’s burial.
2 October 1946
Mrs. Mary E. Warner
300 Maplewood Road
Riverside, Illinois
Dear Mrs. Warner:
The War Department is most desirous that you be furnished information regarding the burial location of your husband, the late First Lieutenant John T. Warner, A.S.N. O-1 290 690.
The records of this office disclose that his remains are interred in the U. S. Military Cemetery, Marigny, plot B, row 7, grave 131. You made be assured that the identification and interment have been accomplished with fitting dignity and solemnity.
This cemetery is located nine miles west of St. Lo, France, and is under the constant care and supervision of the United States military personnel.
The War Department has now been authorized to comply, at Government expense, with the feasible wishes of the next of kin regarding final interment, here or abroad, of the remains of your loved one. At a later date, this office will, without any action on your part, provide the next of kin with full information and solicit his detailed desires.
Please accept my sincere sympathy in your great loss.
Sincerely yours,
(signed)
T. B. LARKIN
Major General
The Quartermaster General
Another letter arrived, dated October 27, 1947, asking her to complete an enclosed form indicating where she wanted her husband buried. It was at this time that Mary sent a copy of her second marriage certificate to OQMG. John’s mother was now John’s next-of-kin. She received the same letter and form in a letter dated March 7, 1949, and was asked to return the form indicating where she wanted John buried. She returned the form and indicated that her son should be buried in a US Military Cemetery overseas.
Since the cemetery he was buried in was selected to become a permanent US Military Cemetery, his mother did not hear from the Office of the Quartermaster General again until she received a letter dated March 7, 1949. In the letter she was informed that John’s grave had been relocated in the cemetery, and that he was buried with full military honors. She also received the flag that had covered his casket when he was reburied.
1/Lt. John T. Warner, ASN O-1 290 690
Plot I, Row 15, Grave 3
Mr. Vera W. Handtmann Headstone: Cross
300 Maplewood Road St. James U. S. Military Cemetery
Riverside, Illinois
Dear Mrs. Handtmann:
This is to inform you that the remains of your beloved one have been permanently interred, as the recorded above, side by side with comrades who also gave their lives for their country. Customary military funeral services were conducted over the grave at the time of burial.
After the Department of the Army has completed all final interments, the cemetery will be transferred, as authorized by the Congress, to the care and supervision of the American Battle Monuments Commission. The commission will have the responsibility for permanent construction and beautification of the cemetery, including erection of the permanent headstone. The headstone will be inscribe with the name exactly recorded above, the rank or rating where appropriate, organization, State, and date of death. Any inquiries relative to the type of headstone or the spelling of the name to be inscribed thereon, should be addressed to the American Battle Monuments Commission, the central address of which is 1712 “G” Street, N. W. Washington 25, D. C. Your letter should include the full name, rank, serial number, grave location, and name of the cemetery.
While interments and beautification activities are in progress, the cemetery will not be open to visitors. You may be rest assured that this final interment was conducted with fitting dignity and solemnity and that the grave-site will be care-fully and conscientiously maintained in perpetuity by the United States Government.
Sincerely yours,
(signed)
THOMAS B. LARKIN
Major General
The Quartermaster General
