GyBill
01-22-2009, 09:01 PM
CWO3, USMC (Ret.) John Fields, Jr., 88, passed away at his home in Yuma on Tuesday, December, 23, 2008 as a result of complications from Parkinson's disease. My father was born on July 31, 1920, to John Layton Fields and Lula May Walter Fields in Plainfield, Wisconsin. Called "Junior" by his family and Johnnie by his friends, he graduated from Fond du Lac Senior High School in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin in 1939. During this time he met a pretty teenager named Betty Hennen who was to later become his wife. Shortly after his 20th birthday in 1940 he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. Dad went off to World War II returning briefly to marry my mother, Betty, in June 1943. The beautiful church wedding was hastily arranged, leaving no time for printed invitations. He was dashing in his dress blues, she a radiant bride in white with pink peonies in her bouquet. There were such a beautiful couple, very much in love and ready for their own family and the adventures of the world. I believe my mother would have followed him anywhere, this special man to whom she had vowed to share her life. Two children were born and our family lived on six different military bases in the continental United States. He retired after 27 years of active duty in 1967. The continued to make their home in Yuma, Arizona, his last duty station Loving and caring for his family was always his first priority. Secondly he loved the Marine Corps. He was fiercely dedicated to the values and ideals of being a Marine. But, our home was always like anyone else's home in that it was his haven, warm and inviting. It was a world apart from the discipline and dedication to duty he mustered each day when he donned the Marine Corps uniform. He then became one of the few and the proud. Enlisting as a private, he rose through the ranks to retire as an Officer. It was a great adventure. Along the way he made many special life long friends with whom he and my mother remained in touch with over the years. John saw action in the Pacific during World War II and in the Korean War. During WWII he participated in campaigns at Midway Island, the Marshall Islands, Saipan and Iwo Jima. Warrant Officer Fields' medals and decorations included the Purple Heart Medal, Navy Commendation with one star, Good Conduct Medal with four stars, Korean Presidential Citation, Korean Service Medal with three stars, United Nations Service Medal, World War II Victory Medal, Asian Pacific Campaign Medal with six stars, American Defense Service Medal, and the American Campaign Medal. An accomplished bookkeeper and auditor he worked for many years at Desert Manor Convalescent Center and then for Dr. Henry Meyer, M.D., managing the doctor's medical office and personal finances. My father was a proud 50 year member of the Masonic Lodge in Quantico, Virginia, a life member of the Yuma Elks Lodge and American Legion. John is survived by his daughter, Jeanne and her husband Ron Givens of Yuma; sister, Ruth Pasko of Belpre, Ohio; grandchildren, Paul Fields of Gillette, Wyoming, Dustin Fields and his wife Cary of Yuma, James Givens of Yuma, Beth Givens Huggins of Tucson, Arizona, Katie Fields and Nick Fields of Missouri; great-grandchildren, Lucy Fields and Patrick Fields of Yuma; many nieces and nephews and friends throughout the country. He was preceded in death by his loving wife of 54 years, Betty Fields, and son, John Richard Fields. Their deaths were the greatest sadness of his life. He missed them every day. Dad was also preceded in death by his mother and father, John L. and Lula Fields; sister, Doris Pamperin; brothers, Glen, Jim, and Hubert Fields; grandchildren, Jason and Eric Fields. My father was a good man. He was honest, hardworking, loyal and loving. He was strong of will and character, a responsible family man. The stability he created for us was unmatched. To this day I feel his protective arms around me and my family. I know he'll always be there in spirit and memory. I loved him very much and will miss him. His death marks the end of this generation of our immediate Fields family. It is now up the the present and future generations to carry on his legacy. Using the lessons he taught us, I hope we will make him proud. Burial and graveside services with full military honors presented by the United States Marine Corps Honor Guard, MCAS Yuma will be at Desert Lawn Memorial Park, Yuma, on Thursday, January 22, 2009 at 11 a.m. Memorial donations may be made to Hospice of Yuma, 1824 S. 8th Avenue, Yuma, AZ 85364