John D. Ossmann was born on May 13, 1947, to Eugene and Erskin Ossmann. His home of record is Trenton, NJ. He had two brothers, Karl and Eugene, and three sisters, Erskin, June and Eileen. He attended Homedell School in Hamilton Township, NJ, and graduated from Trenton High School in 1966.
John loved children, his nieces and nephews, and he loved dogs, mainly his German Shepard, Queenie. In his letters from Vietnam, he wrote about children. How children were the same there as they were here. He enjoyed playing with them and sharing his candy, food, etc.
He entered the US Marine Corps in June 1966 and completed boot camp at Parris Island. He attained the rank of Private First Class (PFC). Ossmann was assigned to M Company, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division.
Ossmann was killed in action on February 21, 1967, by a gunshot wound to the chest. He is buried in Greenwood Cemetery in Hamilton Township, NJ.
His awards and medals include the Rifle Marksman, National Defense, Republic of Vietnam Service, and the Purple Heart.
His name appears on the Veterans’ Memorial at Hamilton High School West in Hamilton, NJ, along with the six other graduates from that school that were killed in Vietnam.
Sources: June Miller (sister), various websites and NJVVMF.