Veteran to Veteran
Once again, another Veteran friend recommended another local Veteran. City Councilman Bob Kellar, a former U.S. Army Green Beret and retired L.A. Police Officer, told me about Veteran John Coleman.  

I wasted little time contacting John, and we soon met at our iconic Route 66 restaurant in Canyon Country over a few beers. An excellent conversation ensued to begin developing this Veterans page.

National Guard

John J. Coleman 40th Infantry Division Patch

John J. Coleman was born on April 13, 1931 at Glendale, California’s Behrens Memorial Hospital and grew up in nearby Burbank graduating from Bellarmine-Jefferson High School on June 17, 1949.  

“Actress Angie Dickenson, who appeared in over 50 films, graduated from my high school,” said John.

During high school, John played baseball and football while managing to work part time earning a few bucks performing vehicle repairs at a local gas station garage. After high school, he landed a job with Pacific Aeromotive Corporation in Burbank assembling Hamilton Standard steel propellers for the dazzling sum of $1 per hour.  

Soon, John noticed that his pals were signing up for the National Guard at Van Nuys Armory so realizing he wanted to do his part too, he enlisted.  

Meanwhile, none of them had a clue what was happening on the Korean peninsula when suddenly, in September 1950, John’s unit was activated and off he went to Camp Cooke, California for basic training.

Frozen in Korea
Following basic training, John returned home for a two-week leave of absence and promptly married his sweetheart, Jacquelyn Owens who had been introduced to him by his high school buddy Phil Bartko.  

John J. Coleman Jeep

After a blissful holiday and an abbreviated honeymoon, John traveled to San Francisco and boarded the World War II troop ship USS General M. C. Meigs and journeyed to Sendai, Japan.  

John, assigned to California National Guard’s 625th Field Artillery Battalion, 40th Infantry Division, had combat training for six months before taking a U.S. Navy Landing Ship Tank (LST) to Inchon, Korea in April 1951.  

From Inchon, John and his boys took a troop train, which had its windows shot out by Chinese communist soldiers toward the front lines.  

“We hadn’t received our winter gear yet so that train ride was the coldest and most miserable trip I had ever had,” he added.  

Next, John’s unit boarded deuce and half trucks that took them even closer to the front lines where they set up squad tents in a freezing water swamped rice paddy.  As destiny would have it, John arrived at Inchon on his 21st birthday.  Welcome to Korea and happy birthday!

40th Infantry Division
John’s primary responsibility, as a communications lineman, was running lines from headquarters to their battery units and adjacent infantry troops, which were considered critical for combat effectiveness.  

John J. Coleman Korean Service Medal

During John’s service at the front lines, his unit was constantly bombarded with Chinese mortar rounds that tore up the place.  

“It was nerve racking when those mortars came whistling in,” John recalled, “Once we figured out that communist troops were rebuilding their bunkers during the night, our 40th Infantry Division Signal troops using large searchlights constantly illuminated the cloudy skies, thus greatly hampering our enemy.”  

On July 27, 1953, fighting concluded when the Korean Armistice Agreement was signed, though John’s tour of duty ended sending him home in June 1952. He returned to San Francisco aboard the exact same troop ship that took him to Inchon.  

John’s wife Jacquelyn welcomed him home in San Francisco, and following his honorable discharge, John splurged and used his $24.37 travel allowance for their bus fare to his parent’s Burbank home.  

“Our reunion in San Francisco was fantastic and unforgettable,” he said. “Having served my country, I was committed to return home and resume a normal life to pursue my American Dream.”

Successful Businessman
Once home, John’s friend Phil Bartko helped him become a machinist apprentice and soon it was on the job training (OJT) at Los Angeles Gauge Company in Glendale where he was promoted to shop foreman.  

In 1958, John, prideful of his achievements with his high school education, started his very own successful business, M-Tron Manufacturing Company, which he owned and operated for 40 years.  

Soon, John and Jacquelyn purchased a new Sun Valley home for the princely sum of $11,750 and subsequently they brought three fine sons into their world.  

Four years later, they bought a larger home in Sepulveda for $16,000 where they lived for five years until Jacquelyn sadly passed away. In 1976, John moved to Sand Canyon.

Reluctant Retirement
In 1984, John married his office manager, Jean Erickson, after realizing that the two had slowly become attracted to each over several years.  

John J. Coleman & Pals on Communications Line Work

Jean had two children from a previous marriage so John’s family grew a bit larger.  Her interest was captivated by breeding as many as 20 purebred Andalusian horses, known as the “Pure Spanish Horse.”  

In 2003, John reluctantly retired and sold his business not realizing that the new owner would promptly replace John’s long time employees, whom he considered as friends and family.  

“I found that extremely hurtful,” he said.  

For awhile, John stayed active racing motorcycles and these days he enjoys golf at our beautiful local golf courses. He also appreciates attending Santa Clarita’s patriotic annual Memorial Day and Veterans Day Ceremonies as well as our Independence Day Parades.  

Thank you John J. Coleman for your honorable service and you’re to be commended for your excellent business judgment.

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