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Col. (Retired) John Wesley Munn

Published/Last Modified on Sunday, Jan 27, 2008 - 06:11:45 am MST

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Col. (Retired) John Wesley Munn, 75, a 17-year resident of Sierra Vista, Ariz., passed away Thursday, Jan. 24, 2008, at the Sierra Vista Regional Health Center. He was born Jan. 31, 1932, in McAlester, Okla., to John and Nellie Munn.

He enlisted in the Oklahoma National Guard as a private in the infantry at the age of 15. He mobilized with the 45th Division (Infantry) and fought in the Republic of Korea. He attained the rank of master sergeant/platoon sergeant prior to release from active duty to attend the University of Oklahoma.

John received a Battlefield Commission in the Field Artillery in the grade of second lieutenant. He commanded Battery B, 171st Field Artillery until an opportunity to branch transfer to the Transportation Corps became available. He commanded the 906th Transportation Company (Terminal Service at Camp Leroy Johnson, New Orleans, La.). He served as the executive officer of the 7515th Transportation Battalion at Fort Eustis, Va. Two tours in the Republic of Vietnam as the traffic manager for the Military Traffic Management Command, J45, with responsibilities for airlift, sealift and land movements. Subsequent tours of duty in various foreign countries in various logistics capacities resulting in the final grade of colonel.

He entered federal civil service in 1976 at Fort Bliss, Texas, as the traffic manager and was promoted to the installation transportation officer (ITO) at Fort Jackson, S.C., after one year. Subsequently, one year later he was promoted to the installation transportation officer at Fort Huachuca and in 1981 was selected as the staff transportation officer at the U.S. Army Communications Command. In 1987 he accepted the position of director of transportation for the U.S. Army Support Command at Fort Shafter, Hawaii. This position covered the West Coast of California to the West Coast of the Philippines. He returned to U.S. Army Information Systems Command as the staff transportation officer in time for Operation Desert Storm.

John attended the University of Oklahoma and received a bachelor of science degree in management; Oklahoma City University, master’s of business administration degree in management; graduate of the Command and General Staff College; Industrial College of the Armed Forces and the U.S. Army War College; and continuing education in various managerial and executive seminars and courses.

Decorations and awards include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, Combat Infantryman’s Badge, Vietnamese Honor Medal 1st Class and others.

He was a member of the Society of Logistics Engineers, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and the American Legion.

John is survived by his wife of 55 years, Trudy of Sierra Vista; daughter, Linda Kay Carter (Paul); grandsons WM Nathan Carter (Amber) and Aaron Paul Carter; three great-grandchildren, all of Atoka, Tenn.; and sister, Kay (Munn) France of Norman, Okla.

A time of visitation will be from 4:30 to 6 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 28, 2008, at the Hatfield Funeral Home. Funeral services will be at noon on Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2008, at the Hatfield Funeral Home. Interment with military honors will follow at Southern Arizona Veterans Memorial Cemetery.

Arrangements are by the Hatfield Funeral Home.

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Candace wrote on Feb 2, 2008 7:14 PM:

" Prayers and peace to the Munn family. "

Jerry Hubbard wrote on Jan 28, 2008 11:29 AM:

" John Munn:

Friend, Colleague, Citizen; Soldier.
Much more so many others .
For me, these four stand out.
Five decades of service, integrity and selfless commitment.
I'd say they don't make em like John any more, but he'd animately disagree.
John loved and respected the military and all of its members, especially the young. I'm convinced that's why he served 50 + years among them. He remembered them, always fondly.
Now, Its our turn.
RIP, Colonel. Till We Meet Again. "