J.D. Ward

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Bio

He was born in Leicester, North Carolina, on September 30, 1934. J.D. served in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War. He enlisted in 1952 and served until either 1959 or 1960. He was a Gunner’s Mate on the USS Lake Champlain (CVA-39). He also served on the USS Coral Sea (CV-43). J.D. saw action in Korea, though he rarely spoke about his experiences. He did share that he had lost a couple of friends there.

At one point, J.D. got into trouble while in the Navy. He went AWOL and failed to return to base as required. Military police searched for him but could not find him. He was hiding in a cornfield, watching as they looked for him. Eventually, he turned himself in and was confined for a month. His sentence was extended to eight years. The reasons and timing of his AWOL remain unknown. Unfortunately, his rank upon leaving the Navy in 1959 or 1960 is also unclear.

Despite these challenges, J.D. was proud of his service and went on to have a successful life. He married my grandmother in a courthouse ceremony on December 18, 1952—though it’s uncertain if he was already in the Navy at that time. Together, they had four children. J.D. worked as a mechanic until he was laid off, then purchased a home and focused on renovating it for his family.

J.D. passed away during heart surgery on September 7, 1984, in Asheville, North Carolina. This was just 23 days shy of his 50th birthday. At the time of his passing, he was about to become a grandfather. His legacy continued with his son, who joined the Navy in 1987. He served for eight years, participated in the Gulf War, and was a member of the United States Naval Construction Battalions. These are also known as the Seabees.

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