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COL DUNN SPENT 2, 619 DAYS AS A POW BEFORE HE WAS RELEASED.
HE IS BURIED AT THE KOKOMO MEMORIAL PARK CEMETERY IN KOKOMO, INDIANA
Other Comments:
Silver Star
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Lieutenant Colonel [then Major] John Howard Dunn (MCSN: 0-59941), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while interned as a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam from December 1965 to October 1966. After his aircraft was shot down, Lieutenant Colonel Dunn evaded capture by the enemy in North Vietnam for six days. Once placed in a prison camp, the tenacity and indomitable spirit he showed during those six days became the trademark of his resolve. Lieutenant Colonel Dunn steadfastly refused to cooperate with his captors and was subjected to severe cruelties. Thwarting every attempt of the enemy to break his resistance, he gave his fellow prisoners an exemplary standard upon which to base their own conduct. Although Lieutenant Colonel Dunn aroused the fury of his captors by his resistance, the level of his courage and doggedness matched the increasing intensity of maltreatment levied upon him by the enemy, who ignored international agreements concerning the treatment of POW's. His resolve and determination provided the highest form of leadership and personal example. By his sheer determination and professionalism under the most adverse of conditions, Lieutenant Colonel Dunn displayed devotion not only to the United States but also to his fellow prisoners; thereby reflecting great credit upon himself and upholding the highest traditions of the Marine Corps, the Naval Service, and the United States Armed Forces.
Action Date: December 1965 - October 1966 Service: Marine Corps Rank: Lieutenant Colonel Division: Prisoner of War (North Vietnam)
Legion of Merit
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Legion of Merit with Combat "V" to Lieutenant Colonel [then Major] John Howard Dunn (MCSN: 0-59941), United States Marine Corps, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States while interned as a Prisoner of War (POW) in North Vietnam from January 1970 to April 1971. During March of 1970, Lieutenant Colonel Dunn unhesitatingly assumed the duties of Senior Ranking Officer while the actual officer holding this billet was placed in solitary confinement. Later in 1970, he actively participated in the formulation of the Fourth Allied Prisoner of War Wing, which was to become the formal prisoner organization. By so doing, Lieutenant Colonel Dunn helped establish a unified prisoner front through which he and his fellow POW's could coordinate and make more effective their resistance demands of the enemy. Designated Deputy for Operations representing the Marine Corps, he utilized his exceptional leadership traits to furnish a positive example and to establish a closer camaraderie amongst all the prisoners in the camp. By his exemplary courage and devotion to the United States under the most adverse of conditions, Lieutenant Colonel Dunn reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Armed Forces. (Lieutenant Colonel Dunn is authorized to wear the Combat "V".)
Action Date: January 1970 - April 1971 Service: Marine Corps Rank: Lieutenant Colonel Division: Prisoner of War in North Vietnam
Legion of Merit
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Legion of Merit with Combat "V" to Colonel [then Major] John Howard Dunn (MCSN: 0-59941), United States Marine Corps, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States while interned as a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam from December 1965 to February 1973. Under extremely adverse conditions, Colonel Dunn remained indomitable and persevering and carried out his responsibilities as a leader by maintaining good order and discipline among other United States Prisoners of War. Despite torture, savage beatings, and innumerable interrogations, he resisted all attempts by the North Vietnamese to use him in propaganda programs detrimental to the United States and in subversion of the United States military organization. In a tireless and outstanding fashion, Colonel Dunn unified the Prisoners of War around him and consistently inspired resistance to an enemy who ignored international agreements concerning the treatment of prisoners of war. By his personal example, courageous stamina, and total dedication to duty throughout his lengthy confinement, Colonel Dunn reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps, the Naval Service, and the United States Armed Forces. (Colonel Dunn is authorized to wear the Combat "V".)
Action Date: December 1965 - February 1973 Service: Marine Corps Rank: Colonel Division: Prisoner of War in North Vietnam
Prisoner of War Medal
Lieutenant Colonel (then Major) John Howard Dunn (MCSN: 0-59941), United States Marine Corps, was held as a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam from December 7, 1965 until his release on February 12, 1973.
Action Date: December 7, 1965 - February 12, 1973 Service: Marine Corps Rank: Lieutenant Colonel Division: Prisoner of War (North Vietnam)
Korean War/Korean Summer (1953)
From Month/Year
May / 1953
To Month/Year
July / 1953
Description Korea, Summer 1953, 1 May - 27 July 1953. There was little activity anywhere along the front as 1953 began. Then, as spring approached, the enemy renewed his attacks against the Eighth Army 's outpost line. By July these attacks had increased in frequency and intensity until they were nearly as heavy as those of May 1951.
In January 1953 Van Fleet had twelve South Korean and eight U.N. divisions to defend the army front. Total strength of combat, service, and security troops was nearly 768,000. Opposing the U.N. forces were seven Chinese armies and two North Korean corps, totaling about 270, 000 troops. Another 531,000 Chinese and North Korean troops remained in reserve. With service and security forces, total enemy strength in Korea was estimated at more than a million men.
Other than a few patrol clashes, little fighting occurred during January and February 1953. On 11 February Lt. Gen. Maxwell D. Taylor took command of the Eighth Army as Van Fleet returned to the United States for retirement. The enemy increased his attacks during March, striking at outposts of the 2d and 7th Divisions and the 1st Marine Regiment. During the period 9-10 March the Chinese were successful in ambushing several U.N. patrols, inflicting heavy casualties in each instance. After these flare-ups the front quieted down until late May, when the enemy struck at the outposts of the U.S. 25th Division that were guarding the approaches to the Eighth Army's western positions. Although the enemy was successful in occupying three of the division outposts, he suffered nearly 3,200 casualties.
On the night of 10 June three Chinese divisions struck the ROK II Corps in the vicinity of Kumsong, attacking down both sides of the Pukhan River. Several attacks forced these units to withdraw about two miles. Both sides lost heavily; the Chinese suffered about 6,000 casualties and the ROK units about 7,400. By 18 June the attacks had subsided. By the end of the month, action along the entire front had returned to routine patrolling and light attacks.
Operation LITTLE SWITCH, an exchange of Allied and Communist sick and wounded prisoners, began on 20 April. When it was completed in the latter part of the month, 684 Allied prisoners had been exchanged for more than 6,000 Communists.
Armistice negotiations were resumed in April. The prisoner-of-war question was settled by providing each side an opportunity to persuade those captives who refused repatriation to their homeland to change their minds. By 18 June the terms of the armistice were all but complete; but on this date President Syngman Rhee ordered the release of 27,000 anti-Communist North Korean prisoners of war unilaterally, in protest against armistice terms which left Korea divided. U.N. officials disclaimed any responsibility for this action; but the enemy delegates denounced it as a serious breach of faith and delayed the final armistice agreement for another month. Enemy forces took advantage of this delay. On 13 July the Chinese launched a three-division attack against the left flank of the ROK II Corps and a one-division attack against the right flank of the U.S. IX Corps, forcing U.N. forces to withdraw about eight miles to positions below the Kumsong River. By 20 July, however, U.N. forces had counterattacked, retaken the high ground along the Kumsong River, and established a new main line of resistance. No attempt was made to restore the original line, as it was believed that the armistice would be signed at any time. Enemy casualties in July totaled about 72,000 men. Out of the five Chinese armies that had been identified in the attacks, the enemy had lost the equivalent of seven divisions.
By 19 July the negotiators at Panmunjom had reached an accord on all points. Details were worked out within a week and the Korean Armistice Agreement was signed at 1000 hours 27 July 1953.
