Born in Grady, Arkansas, John entered the University of Arkansas where he studied for one year. He then volunteered for the U.S. Army Air Forces, attended radar school, and sailed from San Francisco on the freighter Cape San Juan. The vessel was torpedoed north of New Guinea on November 11, 1943. John spent two days and one night in the water, and received a Purple Heart for the incident. He was in Manila when the war ended. John was discharged as a buck sergeant. He returned to the University of Arkansas on the GI Bill. He later worked for Ralston Purina Feed Company as a district salesman.