John Sidney Mallo was born on Jan. 30, 1928, in Richland Center, Wis.

At the age of 17 on March 16, 1945, John joined the US Navy to fight in World War II. John was sent to the Philippines and spent the war on the USS LCI 528 (Landing Craft Infantry). The ship had 25 sailors and moved fighting troops between battles in the Philippines.

On March 1947, after spending two year in the Navy, he joined the Naval Reserve. John went home to Reedsburg, Wis., where he met his future wife Audrey and they were married Nov. 8, 1947.

On Nov. 13, 1950, with a two year old son John E. Mallo, John S. was called back into the active Navy. He went to Korea on the USS Bryce Canyon, a class destroyer tender, one of the largest ships in the Navy at the time. John served on the USS Bryce Canyon until Feb. 27, 1952, when he was honorably discharged.