Mr. John J. Dorton USA (Retired)
Cullum: 18156
Class: '51
Cadet Company: E1
Date of Birth: May 16, 1929
Date of Death: May 7, 2009 - View or Post a Eulogy
From the '51 50 year reunion book:
After the Armor School, I remained at Knox with the 3rd Cav., conducting the troop test oU T-41; took a brief Christmas leave to get married (to Ann Meyer on 12/22/51); and participated in a winter maneuver at Fort Drum. A week after returning, I received orders to Korea. In May '52, after a long Pacific cruise, and other delays, I arrived at the 72nd Tank Bn in Korea. Having only two platoon leaders in Charlie Co., I spent most of my time on line; at first with 8th ROK, then with the 2nd Division. From July to Oct. '52 we were involved in the series of actions at Old Baldy/Porkchop Hill. That period was rather active - long periods between showers. I got "off the hill" as Co. XO in November. In December, I transferred to the 56th Amph. Tank Bn. in Japan, requesting Ann's arrival. In Feb. '53, the '56th sailed to Okinawa for a large landing exercise - (CAMID revisited!). We returned to Japan in May. Ann arrived on schedule in June, but in June, but in July I returned to Korea with the 56th. Our initial mission was to hold an East coast beach (with old LVT's !?) for a possible withdrawal; then to add security for the POW transfers. That was a "zoo" and we couldn't return to Japan until October - all LST's were being used. A month later, I left Japan following a hospital plane across the Pacific.
I was first assigned to Fort Dix, but later reassigned to Frankford Arsenal as a ''user/engineer'' in Fire Control R&D. In early '55 I was a "guest lecturer" at USMA, and invited to join the Ordnance Dept. I transferred to Ordnance, attended the Ord. School, an spent two years in the Engineering Sciences program at Purdue, graduating with an MS degree with honors (Sigma Xi) in '58. The Ordnance Dept. kindly allowed me to return to R&D work at Frankford Arsenal and I became Chief of the Division developing recoilless rifles, small arms ammunition, and cartridge activated devices and doing research in all phases of ballistics. Our projed included aircraft ejection systems, TOW, and Davy Crockett (portable nuclear delivery system). I was also a member of the team studying FABMDS - an early "Star Wars" scheme, limited to defending a Field Army.
In 1962, with four children, seeing Vietnam as a pending disaster, I resigned and became a, project manager in defense work; 1964 I had an opportunity to really change careers and start a home-building business. The company continues to operate, focusing on large custom homes and small commercial construction. For over 30 years, I've enjoyed my work and the beautiful scenery & this area. I'm about 100 miles (and light years) from Jersey City. In 2000, I'm still active and hope to work until I get tired!
