John Preston Vinson was born on September 9, 1916 in Wells, Texas to John Monroe Vinson (38) and Martha Panola Rhoades (32). He attended school in Ratcliff, Texas until he dropped out of 4th grade in 1926. After dropping out of school, he was employed by Emmet Hicks in Wells, Texas from 1926 (where he stayed employed until 1948) as a general farmhand. He plowed fields and prepared them for planting. He planted crops of cotton, nuts, vegetables, etc. He cultivated and harvested crops and hauled them to the market in a truck. He used teams in performing farm chores. He fed and cared for cows, horses, hogs and poultry. He also repaired and maintained farm machinery, fences and buildings. John married Mary Lou Hodges on May 12, 1939 in Texas. On October 16, 1940, John Preston Vinson registered for the draft. He started active service on September 25, 1945 and was separated on December 26, 1945 at the separation center at Fort Bliss, Texas. He served 4 months as a private in basic training. He graduated from basic training as a Private First Class and spend 20 months as a litter bearer, in which he served with the 165th Station Hospital in the Southwest Pacific. He carried patients from the ambulance to the receiving office of the hospital. He assisted the doctor in caring for the patient upon hospital delivery. He would administer first-aid, bandage wounds and apply splints. After being a litter bearer for 1 year and 8 months, he became a light truck driver for another 11 months. He would drive the ambulance for the hospital, where he would only pick up emergency cases. He also drove a 2 and a half ton truck in transporting personnel. He would haul rations from the warehouse to the hospital. He washed and greased the truck and performed minor road repairs when necessary. He left the service as a Private First Class. After the service (and presumably after 1948), he became a log truck driver for Keltys for an unspecified amount of time working for Mr. Brown. He later retired at an unspecified date. He also worked at a service station for Mr
Willingham. For a few personal facts, John loved his potatoes, his beans, his biscuits and coffee. He was a quite simple man. He never did like his green beans though. He never did like to eat the "hulls" of the beans, as he put it! During retirement, he could often be seen with a cigar with his mouth, and wouldn't mind telling his grandkids his old war stories. He would go on and on tell my father about the whiskey runs during the Philippines. He always wore his hats slightly sideways (you can see in the picture) and attended church regularly, where he earned the nickname, "Preacher." He was the deacon for the Simpsontown at the Baptist church. He made sure his kids always went to church on Sunday! Preacher always instilled morals into his children. He loved hard work, and was a firm believer in God, and a despiser of laziness. On October 11, 1993 he died of cancer at his daughter's residence in Pollok, Texas. Stories are still told about him to this day! He used to make lemon ice cream, and my grandma told me a really funny story about him! At his old logging job, this African American man's wife used to make some real good friend apple pies. Preacher asked if she could make some for him. The lady agreed, but only if he would provide the apples. They we're the best friend apple pies he ever tasted! One day, he forgot to give her the apples. He took a bite of the friend apple pie she gave him, and spit it right out! It was filled with cotton. After that he never forgot to give her the apples! This bio was written by his great-grandson, Alexander Brooks.

Participated in March of Dimes under newspaper article The Rusk Cherokeean (Rusk, Tex.), Vol. 98, No. 51, Ed. 1 Thursday, February 1, 1945 Page: 1 of 4

Draft Notice
The Rusk Cherokeean (Rusk, Tex.), Vol. 94, No. 42, Ed. 1 Friday, November 8, 1940 Page: 4 of 6