John Howard Dunn

Howie Dunn was born on September 3, 1930, in Glendive, Montana. He was commissioned a 2Lt in the U.S. Marine Corps through the Naval Aviation Cadet Program and awarded his pilot wings on March 11, 1953. He next attended AD-4 Skyraider training with Marine Attack Training Squadron 10 (VMAT-10) at MCAS El Toro, California, from May to September 1953, followed by service as an AD-4 pilot with Marine Attack Squadron 251 (VMA-251) in South Korea from October 1953 to June 1954. He served with the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing from June to November 1954, and then served as an instructor pilot at NAS Pensacola, Florida, from November 1954 to May 1956. Captain Dunn served with the 1st Recruit Training Battalion at MCRD Parris Island, South Carolina, from May 1956 to May 1957, followed by service as Commanding Officer of Headquarters Battalion at Headquarters U.S. Marine Corps in the Pentagon from May to December 1957. His next assignment was as an R5D Skymaster pilot with Marine Transport Squadron 152 (VMR-152) at MCAS El Toro from December 1957 to November 1958, and then with Marine Wing Support Group 37 (MWSG-37) at El Toro from November 1958 to June 1960. Major Dunn served as a recruiter at U.S. Marine Corps Recruiting Station Jacksonville, Florida, from June 1960 to June 1962, and then served with Marine Wing Headquarters Group 1 (MWHG-1) from July 1962 to July 1963. He next served with Headquarters Battalion, MCS Quantico, from July 1963 to Mary 1964, followed by service with Headquarters & Maintenance Squadron 24 (H&MS-24) with Marine Aircraft Group 24 (MAG-24) at MCAS Cherry Point, North Carolina, from May to December 1964. Major Dunn served as an F-4 Phantom II pilot with Marine Fighter/Attack Squadron 323 (VMFA-323) at MCAS Cherry Point from December 1964 to October 1965, and then deployed to South Vietnam as Executive Officer of VMFA-323 at Da Nang AB, South Vietnam, from October 1965 until he was forced to eject over North Vietnam on December 7, 1965. After evading capture for 6 days, Major Dunn was taken as a Prisoner of War on December 13, 1965.