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John Francis Carr
John Francis Carr, Lieutenant Commander, USN (Retired), 89, of Virginia Beach, VA, died 14 January, 2017. John was born in Salem, Massachusetts on May 22, 1927, the second of six children born to William and Anna Carr. He was married to Ruth Marie Allen, also of Salem, for 63 wonderful years until she succumbed to cancer in 2014. John is survived by his sister, Maryjane Veronese; his four children, Peter (Alice), Thomas (Sherry), Ellen (Clay) Doxey, and Elizabeth Alden; his six grandchildren, Douglas, Benjamin, Elizabeth, Kelly, Kevin, and Mathew; and his two great grandchildren, Luke and Oliver. John graduated from Saint Mary's Boys High School in Lynn, Massachusetts in June 1944 and immediately enrolled in the Army Air Corps Training Program at Norwich University. The Program was discontinued in January, 1945, so John enlisted in the Navy serving aboard USS Randolph (CV-15) in the Western Pacific until the end of the war. He then reenlisted and served on the commissioning crew aboard USS Leyte (CV-32). During the Korean War, John was assigned as a gunners mate aboard USS Herbert Thomas (DD-833) and USS McDermut (DD-677). While aboard Thomas, he was wounded in action while a member of the ship's landing party and was awarded the Purple Heart. After the war, John served at Fleet Gunnery School and Fleet Training Group, San Diego followed by a tour as leading gunners mate aboard USS Catamount (LSD-17). While aboard Catamount he was commissioned a Warrant Officer and then ordered to Naval Supply Center, Pearl Harbor where he accepted his commission as an Ensign. John then served aboard USS Tattnall (DDG-19), USS Norfolk (DL-1), and as lead instructor at the Naval Gunfire Support School, Little Creek where he was promoted to Lieutenant Commander. He went to war for the third time as Commander Naval Advisory Team 35 in Qui Nhon, Republic of South Vietnam, where he led a rescue effort of a patrol boat (PCF) grounded under heavy enemy fire. He was awarded the Bronze Star for this action. Following his tour in Vietnam, John retired from the Navy after 26 years. Graduating from Old Dominion University with a BA and MA degrees in Industrial Arts Education, he started his second career as a teacher with the Virginia Beach City Schools where he taught for 15 years. John and Ruth spent their retirement years hosting their grandchildren and traveling the world. They are now together again for all eternity. Visitation will be Tuesday, January 17, 2017, from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Hollomon-Brown Funeral Home, Lynnhaven Chapel with a funeral Mass at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, January 18, 2017, at St. Nicholas Catholic Church. Condolences may be offered to the family at www.hollomon-brown.comMay 22, 1927 - January 14, 201705/22/192701/14/2017
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John Francis Carr
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