The son of Herbert Jasper Harshbarger and Vesta Ellen Waggoner, John attended Wood River High School in Wood River, Madison County, Illinois.
At the age of 18, John enlisted in the United States Marine Corps on 29 Nov 1939. He was sent to MCRD San Diego for boot camp and attended Sea School.
John was assigned to the aircraft carrier USS Lexington in February of 1940. He was promoted to private first class in August of that year.
The Lexington, or "Lady Lux" as she was nicknamed, was part of the Pacific Fleet for her entire career. She was capable of carrying 78 aircraft at a time, with half of them bombers, and had 1 aircraft catapult. At her peak, the ship's crew consisted of 100 officers, 1,840 enlisted men and an aviation group made up of an additional 141 officers and 710 enlisted men. Her top speed was 33.25 knots (38.26 mph).
Based in Pearl Harbor, the Lexington was ordered to sea on 05 Dec 1941. She was directed to ferry fighter aircraft to Midway Island. On 07 Dec 1941, two days after she left port, the Japanese staged a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor. The Lexington's mission was cancelled, and she arrived back at her home base in Pearl Harbor on 13 Dec 1941.
John's brother, George Harshbarger, joined the United States Army early in the war. He was later wounded in fighting at Okinawa. Another brother, Fred, volunteered to serve in the United States Navy.
In late 1941, John was promoted to corporal. He served as a fuse setter on Gun #6 of the second anti-aircraft battery.
The Lexington again left port on 14 Dec 1941 to take part in a raid on the Japanese base Jaluit in the Marshall Islands. She returned to Pearl Harbor 2 days after Christmas. The ship was sent on a variety of missions throughout January, February and March of 1942.
The family did not hear from John for many weeks after the attack at Pearl Harbor. In April of 1942, they received a package from him containing gifts for the entire family, which he had managed to send home while the Lexington had been in Honolulu.
Between missions during the late winter and early spring of 1942, the Lexington was refitted at Pearl Harbor with additional gun mounts and larger armament. By May 1942, she was armed with 12 five-inch, 12 quadruple 1.1-inch, 22 Oerlikons and at least two dozen .50-caliber machine guns.
In early May, the Lexington rendezvoused with the aircraft carrier Yorktown in the Coral Sea, just northeast of Australia. A few days later, the Japanese began their invasion of Port Moresby in nearby Papua New Guinea. The Lexington and Yorktown were ordered to delay or prevent landing by the enemy on the Australian mainland.
The U.S. carriers sank the Japanese light aircraft carrier Shôhô on 07 May 1942 during the Battle of the Coral Sea. However, they encountered the main Japanese force the next day and were quickly summoned to General Quarters around 8 a.m.
60 Japanese planes were detected as they approached from a distance of 100 miles. Aircraft from the Lexington and Yorktown accounted for 50 of the planes and succeeded in badly damaging a Japanese aircraft carrier.
At 11:15, the Lexington was hit by 4 torpedoes on her port side. Within 3 minutes, the crew had the ship on even keel by flooding the starboard compartments.
Sometime between 11:30 and noon, an aerial torpedo landed on an ammunition locker containing 5-inch shells used by the Marine crew of 8 men handling the anti-aircraft guns. All 8 men, including John Harshbarger, were killed or mortally wounded.
John died at the age of 21 years, 3 months and 23 days. His passing was described by newspaper reports as a "hero's death in defense of his country."
Later that day, vapors from leaking aviation fuel tanks sparked a series of explosions and fires on the Lexington that could not be controlled. Around 5 p.m., the order to abandon ship was given and 2,735 men were evacuated.
The severely damaged Lexington had to be scuttled (intentionally sunk) by an American destroyer, the USS Phelps, later that evening to prevent the Japanese from capturing her. The Lexington was the first U.S. aircraft carrier lost during World War II. A total of 216 of her men were killed in action during the battle.
Despite heavy American losses, the damage done to Japanese naval ships and planes in the Battle of the Coral Sea was credited with having helped make possible the Allied victory in the Battle of Midway the following month.
John was survived by his mother and father; 3 brothers, George Harshbarger, stationed in California, Fred Harshbarger of Alton, Illinois, and Roland of Nameoki, Illinois; and 4 sisters, Margaret Cobine of Roxana, Illinois, Marian Retzer of Hartford, Illinois, and Frances Harshbarger and Virginia Harshbarger, both still living at home.
John's parents received a telegram from the War Department in early June 1942 notifying them that he had been "buried temporarily" and that a detailed letter would follow. In actuality, his body was buried at sea during the battle. A military memorial was erected in his memory at the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial in the Philippines.
John and 17 others were commended posthumously by the Navy Department for "setting an example of courage and devotion to duty of the highest order."
In part, the citation stated that he "remained at (his) post efficiently performing (his) duties during strafing, explosions of torpedoes in the near vicinity...and after an aerial bomb had exploded and fired a locker of heavy ammunition at the battery."
Memorial services were conducted at Oakwood Cemetery in Alton, Illinois on 16 Aug 1942. The family arranged to have a second monument erected there in memory of John.
Children: None.
John's siblings:
Roland H. Harshbarger
Frances W. Harshbarger
Margaret Vesta Harshbarger Cobine
Marian Harshbarger Retzer
George W. Harshbarger
Frederick F. "Fred" Harshbarger, Sr.
Virginia Lee Harshbarger Nagel Secrest
At the age of 18, John enlisted in the United States Marine Corps on 29 Nov 1939. He was sent to MCRD San Diego for boot camp and attended Sea School.
John was assigned to the aircraft carrier USS Lexington in February of 1940. He was promoted to private first class in August of that year.
The Lexington, or "Lady Lux" as she was nicknamed, was part of the Pacific Fleet for her entire career. She was capable of carrying 78 aircraft at a time, with half of them bombers, and had 1 aircraft catapult. At her peak, the ship's crew consisted of 100 officers, 1,840 enlisted men and an aviation group made up of an additional 141 officers and 710 enlisted men. Her top speed was 33.25 knots (38.26 mph).
Based in Pearl Harbor, the Lexington was ordered to sea on 05 Dec 1941. She was directed to ferry fighter aircraft to Midway Island. On 07 Dec 1941, two days after she left port, the Japanese staged a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor. The Lexington's mission was cancelled, and she arrived back at her home base in Pearl Harbor on 13 Dec 1941.
John's brother, George Harshbarger, joined the United States Army early in the war. He was later wounded in fighting at Okinawa. Another brother, Fred, volunteered to serve in the United States Navy.
In late 1941, John was promoted to corporal. He served as a fuse setter on Gun #6 of the second anti-aircraft battery.
The Lexington again left port on 14 Dec 1941 to take part in a raid on the Japanese base Jaluit in the Marshall Islands. She returned to Pearl Harbor 2 days after Christmas. The ship was sent on a variety of missions throughout January, February and March of 1942.
The family did not hear from John for many weeks after the attack at Pearl Harbor. In April of 1942, they received a package from him containing gifts for the entire family, which he had managed to send home while the Lexington had been in Honolulu.
Between missions during the late winter and early spring of 1942, the Lexington was refitted at Pearl Harbor with additional gun mounts and larger armament. By May 1942, she was armed with 12 five-inch, 12 quadruple 1.1-inch, 22 Oerlikons and at least two dozen .50-caliber machine guns.
In early May, the Lexington rendezvoused with the aircraft carrier Yorktown in the Coral Sea, just northeast of Australia. A few days later, the Japanese began their invasion of Port Moresby in nearby Papua New Guinea. The Lexington and Yorktown were ordered to delay or prevent landing by the enemy on the Australian mainland.
The U.S. carriers sank the Japanese light aircraft carrier Shôhô on 07 May 1942 during the Battle of the Coral Sea. However, they encountered the main Japanese force the next day and were quickly summoned to General Quarters around 8 a.m.
60 Japanese planes were detected as they approached from a distance of 100 miles. Aircraft from the Lexington and Yorktown accounted for 50 of the planes and succeeded in badly damaging a Japanese aircraft carrier.
At 11:15, the Lexington was hit by 4 torpedoes on her port side. Within 3 minutes, the crew had the ship on even keel by flooding the starboard compartments.
Sometime between 11:30 and noon, an aerial torpedo landed on an ammunition locker containing 5-inch shells used by the Marine crew of 8 men handling the anti-aircraft guns. All 8 men, including John Harshbarger, were killed or mortally wounded.
John died at the age of 21 years, 3 months and 23 days. His passing was described by newspaper reports as a "hero's death in defense of his country."
Later that day, vapors from leaking aviation fuel tanks sparked a series of explosions and fires on the Lexington that could not be controlled. Around 5 p.m., the order to abandon ship was given and 2,735 men were evacuated.
The severely damaged Lexington had to be scuttled (intentionally sunk) by an American destroyer, the USS Phelps, later that evening to prevent the Japanese from capturing her. The Lexington was the first U.S. aircraft carrier lost during World War II. A total of 216 of her men were killed in action during the battle.
Despite heavy American losses, the damage done to Japanese naval ships and planes in the Battle of the Coral Sea was credited with having helped make possible the Allied victory in the Battle of Midway the following month.
John was survived by his mother and father; 3 brothers, George Harshbarger, stationed in California, Fred Harshbarger of Alton, Illinois, and Roland of Nameoki, Illinois; and 4 sisters, Margaret Cobine of Roxana, Illinois, Marian Retzer of Hartford, Illinois, and Frances Harshbarger and Virginia Harshbarger, both still living at home.
John's parents received a telegram from the War Department in early June 1942 notifying them that he had been "buried temporarily" and that a detailed letter would follow. In actuality, his body was buried at sea during the battle. A military memorial was erected in his memory at the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial in the Philippines.
John and 17 others were commended posthumously by the Navy Department for "setting an example of courage and devotion to duty of the highest order."
In part, the citation stated that he "remained at (his) post efficiently performing (his) duties during strafing, explosions of torpedoes in the near vicinity...and after an aerial bomb had exploded and fired a locker of heavy ammunition at the battery."
Memorial services were conducted at Oakwood Cemetery in Alton, Illinois on 16 Aug 1942. The family arranged to have a second monument erected there in memory of John.
Children: None.
John's siblings:
Roland H. Harshbarger
Frances W. Harshbarger
Margaret Vesta Harshbarger Cobine
Marian Harshbarger Retzer
George W. Harshbarger
Frederick F. "Fred" Harshbarger, Sr.
Virginia Lee Harshbarger Nagel Secrest
The son of Herbert Jasper Harshbarger and Vesta Ellen Waggoner, John attended Wood River High School in Wood River, Madison County, Illinois.
At the age of 18, John enlisted in the United States Marine Corps on 29 Nov 1939. He was sent to MCRD San Diego for boot camp and attended Sea School.
John was assigned to the aircraft carrier USS Lexington in February of 1940. He was promoted to private first class in August of that year.
The Lexington, or "Lady Lux" as she was nicknamed, was part of the Pacific Fleet for her entire career. She was capable of carrying 78 aircraft at a time, with half of them bombers, and had 1 aircraft catapult. At her peak, the ship's crew consisted of 100 officers, 1,840 enlisted men and an aviation group made up of an additional 141 officers and 710 enlisted men. Her top speed was 33.25 knots (38.26 mph).
Based in Pearl Harbor, the Lexington was ordered to sea on 05 Dec 1941. She was directed to ferry fighter aircraft to Midway Island. On 07 Dec 1941, two days after she left port, the Japanese staged a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor. The Lexington's mission was cancelled, and she arrived back at her home base in Pearl Harbor on 13 Dec 1941.
John's brother, George Harshbarger, joined the United States Army early in the war. He was later wounded in fighting at Okinawa. Another brother, Fred, volunteered to serve in the United States Navy.
In late 1941, John was promoted to corporal. He served as a fuse setter on Gun #6 of the second anti-aircraft battery.
The Lexington again left port on 14 Dec 1941 to take part in a raid on the Japanese base Jaluit in the Marshall Islands. She returned to Pearl Harbor 2 days after Christmas. The ship was sent on a variety of missions throughout January, February and March of 1942.
The family did not hear from John for many weeks after the attack at Pearl Harbor. In April of 1942, they received a package from him containing gifts for the entire family, which he had managed to send home while the Lexington had been in Honolulu.
Between missions during the late winter and early spring of 1942, the Lexington was refitted at Pearl Harbor with additional gun mounts and larger armament. By May 1942, she was armed with 12 five-inch, 12 quadruple 1.1-inch, 22 Oerlikons and at least two dozen .50-caliber machine guns.
In early May, the Lexington rendezvoused with the aircraft carrier Yorktown in the Coral Sea, just northeast of Australia. A few days later, the Japanese began their invasion of Port Moresby in nearby Papua New Guinea. The Lexington and Yorktown were ordered to delay or prevent landing by the enemy on the Australian mainland.
The U.S. carriers sank the Japanese light aircraft carrier Shôhô on 07 May 1942 during the Battle of the Coral Sea. However, they encountered the main Japanese force the next day and were quickly summoned to General Quarters around 8 a.m.
60 Japanese planes were detected as they approached from a distance of 100 miles. Aircraft from the Lexington and Yorktown accounted for 50 of the planes and succeeded in badly damaging a Japanese aircraft carrier.
At 11:15, the Lexington was hit by 4 torpedoes on her port side. Within 3 minutes, the crew had the ship on even keel by flooding the starboard compartments.
Sometime between 11:30 and noon, an aerial torpedo landed on an ammunition locker containing 5-inch shells used by the Marine crew of 8 men handling the anti-aircraft guns. All 8 men, including John Harshbarger, were killed or mortally wounded.
John died at the age of 21 years, 3 months and 23 days. His passing was described by newspaper reports as a "hero's death in defense of his country."
Later that day, vapors from leaking aviation fuel tanks sparked a series of explosions and fires on the Lexington that could not be controlled. Around 5 p.m., the order to abandon ship was given and 2,735 men were evacuated.
The severely damaged Lexington had to be scuttled (intentionally sunk) by an American destroyer, the USS Phelps, later that evening to prevent the Japanese from capturing her. The Lexington was the first U.S. aircraft carrier lost during World War II. A total of 216 of her men were killed in action during the battle.
Despite heavy American losses, the damage done to Japanese naval ships and planes in the Battle of the Coral Sea was credited with having helped make possible the Allied victory in the Battle of Midway the following month.
John was survived by his mother and father; 3 brothers, George Harshbarger, stationed in California, Fred Harshbarger of Alton, Illinois, and Roland of Nameoki, Illinois; and 4 sisters, Margaret Cobine of Roxana, Illinois, Marian Retzer of Hartford, Illinois, and Frances Harshbarger and Virginia Harshbarger, both still living at home.
John's parents received a telegram from the War Department in early June 1942 notifying them that he had been "buried temporarily" and that a detailed letter would follow. In actuality, his body was buried at sea during the battle. A military memorial was erected in his memory at the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial in the Philippines.
John and 17 others were commended posthumously by the Navy Department for "setting an example of courage and devotion to duty of the highest order."
In part, the citation stated that he "remained at (his) post efficiently performing (his) duties during strafing, explosions of torpedoes in the near vicinity...and after an aerial bomb had exploded and fired a locker of heavy ammunition at the battery."
Memorial services were conducted at Oakwood Cemetery in Alton, Illinois on 16 Aug 1942. The family arranged to have a second monument erected there in memory of John.
Children: None.
John's siblings:
Roland H. Harshbarger
Frances W. Harshbarger
Margaret Vesta Harshbarger Cobine
Marian Harshbarger Retzer
George W. Harshbarger
Frederick F. "Fred" Harshbarger, Sr.
Virginia Lee Harshbarger Nagel Secrest
At the age of 18, John enlisted in the United States Marine Corps on 29 Nov 1939. He was sent to MCRD San Diego for boot camp and attended Sea School.
John was assigned to the aircraft carrier USS Lexington in February of 1940. He was promoted to private first class in August of that year.
The Lexington, or "Lady Lux" as she was nicknamed, was part of the Pacific Fleet for her entire career. She was capable of carrying 78 aircraft at a time, with half of them bombers, and had 1 aircraft catapult. At her peak, the ship's crew consisted of 100 officers, 1,840 enlisted men and an aviation group made up of an additional 141 officers and 710 enlisted men. Her top speed was 33.25 knots (38.26 mph).
Based in Pearl Harbor, the Lexington was ordered to sea on 05 Dec 1941. She was directed to ferry fighter aircraft to Midway Island. On 07 Dec 1941, two days after she left port, the Japanese staged a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor. The Lexington's mission was cancelled, and she arrived back at her home base in Pearl Harbor on 13 Dec 1941.
John's brother, George Harshbarger, joined the United States Army early in the war. He was later wounded in fighting at Okinawa. Another brother, Fred, volunteered to serve in the United States Navy.
In late 1941, John was promoted to corporal. He served as a fuse setter on Gun #6 of the second anti-aircraft battery.
The Lexington again left port on 14 Dec 1941 to take part in a raid on the Japanese base Jaluit in the Marshall Islands. She returned to Pearl Harbor 2 days after Christmas. The ship was sent on a variety of missions throughout January, February and March of 1942.
The family did not hear from John for many weeks after the attack at Pearl Harbor. In April of 1942, they received a package from him containing gifts for the entire family, which he had managed to send home while the Lexington had been in Honolulu.
Between missions during the late winter and early spring of 1942, the Lexington was refitted at Pearl Harbor with additional gun mounts and larger armament. By May 1942, she was armed with 12 five-inch, 12 quadruple 1.1-inch, 22 Oerlikons and at least two dozen .50-caliber machine guns.
In early May, the Lexington rendezvoused with the aircraft carrier Yorktown in the Coral Sea, just northeast of Australia. A few days later, the Japanese began their invasion of Port Moresby in nearby Papua New Guinea. The Lexington and Yorktown were ordered to delay or prevent landing by the enemy on the Australian mainland.
The U.S. carriers sank the Japanese light aircraft carrier Shôhô on 07 May 1942 during the Battle of the Coral Sea. However, they encountered the main Japanese force the next day and were quickly summoned to General Quarters around 8 a.m.
60 Japanese planes were detected as they approached from a distance of 100 miles. Aircraft from the Lexington and Yorktown accounted for 50 of the planes and succeeded in badly damaging a Japanese aircraft carrier.
At 11:15, the Lexington was hit by 4 torpedoes on her port side. Within 3 minutes, the crew had the ship on even keel by flooding the starboard compartments.
Sometime between 11:30 and noon, an aerial torpedo landed on an ammunition locker containing 5-inch shells used by the Marine crew of 8 men handling the anti-aircraft guns. All 8 men, including John Harshbarger, were killed or mortally wounded.
John died at the age of 21 years, 3 months and 23 days. His passing was described by newspaper reports as a "hero's death in defense of his country."
Later that day, vapors from leaking aviation fuel tanks sparked a series of explosions and fires on the Lexington that could not be controlled. Around 5 p.m., the order to abandon ship was given and 2,735 men were evacuated.
The severely damaged Lexington had to be scuttled (intentionally sunk) by an American destroyer, the USS Phelps, later that evening to prevent the Japanese from capturing her. The Lexington was the first U.S. aircraft carrier lost during World War II. A total of 216 of her men were killed in action during the battle.
Despite heavy American losses, the damage done to Japanese naval ships and planes in the Battle of the Coral Sea was credited with having helped make possible the Allied victory in the Battle of Midway the following month.
John was survived by his mother and father; 3 brothers, George Harshbarger, stationed in California, Fred Harshbarger of Alton, Illinois, and Roland of Nameoki, Illinois; and 4 sisters, Margaret Cobine of Roxana, Illinois, Marian Retzer of Hartford, Illinois, and Frances Harshbarger and Virginia Harshbarger, both still living at home.
John's parents received a telegram from the War Department in early June 1942 notifying them that he had been "buried temporarily" and that a detailed letter would follow. In actuality, his body was buried at sea during the battle. A military memorial was erected in his memory at the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial in the Philippines.
John and 17 others were commended posthumously by the Navy Department for "setting an example of courage and devotion to duty of the highest order."
In part, the citation stated that he "remained at (his) post efficiently performing (his) duties during strafing, explosions of torpedoes in the near vicinity...and after an aerial bomb had exploded and fired a locker of heavy ammunition at the battery."
Memorial services were conducted at Oakwood Cemetery in Alton, Illinois on 16 Aug 1942. The family arranged to have a second monument erected there in memory of John.
Children: None.
John's siblings:
Roland H. Harshbarger
Frances W. Harshbarger
Margaret Vesta Harshbarger Cobine
Marian Harshbarger Retzer
George W. Harshbarger
Frederick F. "Fred" Harshbarger, Sr.
Virginia Lee Harshbarger Nagel Secrest
Gravesite Details
Entered the service from Missouri.
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