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COLONEL JOHN DUNN – CLASS OF 1951

Dunn, John COL (Ret) of Tavares, Florida

1927 - 2016

Colonel (COL) John P. Dunn began his service in the U.S. Army in November 1945 as an antitank gun crew member. His first assignment was in Seoul, Korea with the 24th Corps where he served in the 282nd AGF Band. He was released from active duty in August 1947. He enrolled in ROTC at Western Michigan University in 1950. He graduated from Western Michigan University with a Bachelor of Arts degree and received a commission in the first ever commissioning class from Western in 1951. He has also earned a Masters of Arts degree from the University of Michigan in 1957.

 

COL Dunn’s military education included the Civil Affairs/Military Government Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, the Quartermasters Corps Company Officer Course, Industrial College of the Armed Forces, National Security Management Course, and the Command and General Staff College.  He joined the 415th Civil Affairs Company in 1948 and served in various unit assignments including that of Commander. His active duty assignments include service in Germany from 1952-1954. His last active reserve duty was that of an instructor at the Command and General Staff College in the USAR system.  COL Dunn’s decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, Army Occupation of Japan and Germany Medals, Victory Medal World War II, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, and the Component Achievement Medal.

 

COL Dunn’s civilian career has been that of a teacher in the Ludington and Kalamazoo Public Schools. He has been an Administrator in the Kalamazoo Public Schools serving as Principal of Central High School, South Junior High and Lincoln School. He has also acted as Coordinator of Public Schools for Kalamazoo Public Schools which included meeting Federal Court mandates for assignment of students in grades K-12 and liaison with Federal, State and Local Courts. COL Dunn was also the President of Michigan Pupil Accounting and Attendance Association. He has since retired from Michigan Public Schools with 42 years credit.

 

Obituary – Kalamazoo Gazette:  John Dunn passed away on February 6, 2011 at the Upjohn Community Care Center. John was born August 20, 1927 in Kalamazoo, MI, a son of Percy and Louisa (Wolfe) Dunn and was a lifelong resident of Kalamazoo. He graduated from State High School in 1944; Western Michigan University with a B.A. Degree in 1957 and the University of Michigan with an M.A. Degree in 1957.

 

He was inducted into the U.S. Army in November of 1945. After basic training, John was assigned to the 24th Infantry Corps in Seoul, Korea. He was released from active duty in August of 1947 after which he enrolled in R.O.T.C. at W.M.U. (the first class to be commissioned in 1951). John also served active duty in the U.S. Army from 1952 to 1954. He then was stationed in Germany with the 415th Civil Affairs Company where he served in various assignments, including Commanding Officer.

 

On August 12, 1951, John was married to the former Dorothy E. Patow, who survives. John was a member of the First United Methodist Church where he served on the administrative board, the board of trustees, treasurer, usher and various other capacities. In 1992, John retired from a 38 year career with the Kalamazoo Public Schools where he was a teacher, principal, and an administrator. John was also a member of the Kalamazoo Downtown Lions Club where he served as president, Portage Senior Center, Phi Delta Kappa and the airport advisory board. Surviving are his wife, Dorothy; three sons and one daughter, Warren (Rowena) Dunn, Susan Brown, David Dunn and Donna Doner, Allen Dunn; six grandchildren, Adam, Amanda, Samantha, Tyler, Connor, and Alex.