#VeteranOfTheDay Navy Veteran John O. Adams

Today’s #VeteranOfTheDay is Navy Veteran John O. Adams. John served during World War II from 1940 until 1946.

In a memoir posted on the Veteran’s History Project, John describes how he enlisted in the Navy in 1940 at the age of 17 and signed up to be a Radioman, an occupation he would hold throughout the war. After completing his training, John was stationed on the USS Henley, a Destroyer.

John was stationed in Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, he was deployed to the Pacific Theater and fought in the Solomon Islands during the Battle of Guadalcanal. He additionally fought in the Battle of Coral Sea, the Battle of Surigao Strait, and the invasion of Mindoro Island. John also took part in rescue missions and served on a PT Boat.

After being honorably discharged, John attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and received a degree in engineering. As a student at MIT, John was a record-breaking Hammer Thrower and was 3/4ths of an inch away from competing in the Olympics.

John passed away on January 31, 2010

We honor John’s service.

Nominate a Veteran for #VeteranOfTheDay

Do you want to light up the face of a special Veteran? Have you been wondering how to tell your Veteran they are special to you? You’re in luck! VA’s #VeteranOfTheDay social media feature is an opportunity to highlight your Veteran and his/her service.

It’s easy to nominate a Veteran. All it takes is an email to newmedia@va.gov with as much information as you can put together, along with some good photos. Visit our blog post about nominating to learn how to create the best submission.

Veterans History Project

This #VeteranOfTheDay profile was created with interviews submitted to the Veterans History Project. The project collects, preserves, and makes accessible the personal accounts of American war Veterans so that future generations may hear directly from Veterans and better understand the realities of war. Find out more at http://www.loc.gov/vets/.

Graphic By Kierra Willis: Kierra Willis is a Graphic Communication Major at the University of Maryland University College. She currently has an AAS in Graphic Design and Visual Communications.