John William Watkins, age 21, from Jefferson County Jefferson City, Tennessee .
Parents: Hugh Watkins
Service era: Vietnam
Schools: Jefferson High
Date of death: Monday, April 11, 1966
Death details: Killed in Vietnam when the Viet Cong launched a surprise attack on his company in the jungle.
Source: National Archives, Grainger County News (1966)
John Carol Jr. Owen from Jefferson County Jefferson City, Tennessee .
Service era: World War II
Date of death: Thursday, October 15, 1942
Death details: On October 15, 1942, he was in a U.S. convoy of six ships that was towing barges loaded with urgently needed supplies toward Guadalcanal. The American forces on that island were in dire need of resupply. When the convoy was spotted by enemy aircraft, all but two ships withdrew from the area. The two ships that pressed on were the USS Meredith (DD-434,) a destroyer, and the USS Vireo (AM-54,) a lightly armed towing vessel. Upon receiving word that Japanese surface warships were operating in the area, both ships were forced to turn back from their mission. Because of its age and slow speed, Vireo was abandoned, and the crew taken aboard the Meredith. Within minutes, the Meredith was attacked by a large force of enemy aircraft. The destroyer sustained multiple bomb and torpedo hits and quickly sank. The survivors spent three days at sea before being rescued. The majority of the crews of both ships was killed in the incident.
Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency