John C. Loken

Inchon, Korea; Fort Richardson, Alaska; Fort Meyers, Virginia; Washington DC / World War II
  • Military specialty: Military Police, 3rd Infantry, Engineer
  • Awards: Mayor's Medal of Honor for Courage

b. 03 Jul 1927.  John Clifford Loken was born in Windom, MN to Clarence and Ellen (Peterson) Loken.  His stepfather was Art Westerlund. He graduated from Windom High School in 1945.

John was inducted and entered in active duty in the U.S. Army on 28 Aug 1945 at Fort Snelling, MN. He was honorably discharged on 31 Mar 1946 at Inch’on, Korea and enlisted in the Regular Army on 1 Apr 1946 at Inch’on. He was honorably discharged on 28 Mar 1949 at Fort Meyer, VA prior to his expiration of term of service. He served outside the continental limits of the United States from 21 Feb 1946 to 7 May 1946, and from 20 Sep 1946 to 3 Jan 1948. During his time in service to his country, John served in the Ceremonial Detachment in the 3rd Infantry at Fort Meyer, VA and Arlington Cemetery.  He also served in Korea, and Alaska.

The following excerpt was obtained in an oral history interview of John Loken by Marilyn Wahl.  The entirety is available at CCHS.  He went right into the U.S. Army after he graduated from high school. He went from Fort Snelling to Inchon, Korea in the Infantry.  Nothing was happening at that time, but the Infantry was sent there to help build  up Korea and repair roads. Although nothing needed repairs, he was supervisor for a work crew. John actually was in the Military Police, but he stayed in Korea for about 7 months and then transferred to Fort Richardson near Anchorage, Alaska.  he was transferred to an Engineering Outfit that did road and runway maintenance. He went up and down the Aleutian Islands and around Alaska plowing and moving snow around on snow plows without cabs, so it got mighty cold.

One day men were asked if they could play hockey. “For the rest of my time in Alaska,  they flew me around in planes and I  played hockey.” After a couple years, his First Sergeant told him to pack his bag because he was going to the ceremonial detachment in Washington DC.”  He was attached to the Ceremonial detachment and walked as a Tomb Guard, was Sergeant at Arms for General Pershing’s funeral at the Capital Building, and actually shared an apple with General Omar Bradley when he was Chief of Staff. John said he had a different uniform for everything that happened when he was on Tomb duty. He once helped carry Mamie Eisenhower off an airplane in Washington DC when she had gotten sick. John met Eisenhower in Adak, Alaska, when a falling crate broke Eisenhower’s leg. John was in the service 3 years 9 months and 27 days and was discharged from Fort Sheridan, Illinois.

He returned to Windom in 1952 where he married Cozette Malin on 10 Oct 1953. They had 2 daughters. John was employed as a mechanic and also was interested in airplanes and construction.

 

  • Obituary: None on file