ABOUT JOHN
JOHN ALEXANDER PELHAM was born on November 9th, 1991, in Beaverton, Oregon, and grew up in locations around Oregon and Washington; graduating from Sunset High School, where he played on the baseball team. John joined the U.S. Army in July of 2011, where he completed Basic Combat Training at Fort Jackson, S.C. Following Basic Combat Training, he attended the Signals Intelligence Analyst Advanced Individual Training at Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas.
John arrived to his first duty assignment with 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne) and was recently assigned to the unit’s 2nd Battalion. His military education included: Basic Combat Training, 2011; Signals Intelligence Analyst Advanced Individual Training Course, 2012; Basic Airborne Course, 2013; Combat Lifesaver Course, 2013; and Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape Course, 2013.
John Alexander Pelham’s awards and decorations include: Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Achievement Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, North Atlantic Treaty Organization Medal, the Combat Action Badge, and the Parachutist Badge.
John passed away on February 12, 2014, of wounds received from small-arms fire while serving in Kapisa Province, Afghanistan, as part of the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
His funeral was attended by nearly 1,000 people, where he was remembered by his mentality of “Let’s go out with our guns blazing and boots on.”
A message left behind at John's funeral from his fellow soldiers who delivered John from Fort Bragg.
