John F. Lubben

John F. Lubben was an American soldier during World War II. John was born in Wisconsin Rapids on October 15, 1916. He lived in Wisconsin Rapids until he enlisted in the Air Force. John had three sisters and two brothers. He was an active person and loved to be involved in the community. He had many friends and they were the reason that he wanted to enlist.

John never spoke to his family about being a soldier or about being in the service. He became enlisted because his friends did, and he wanted to be with them. Paul, John's younger brother, said John was good at sports, mostly golf and hockey. John graduated and received his education at Lincoln High School. After high school, he worked at Consolidated Papers at its Biron mill.

John enlisted in the Air Force on November 1, 1940, and went to Pearl Harbor. He was wounded at Pearl Harbor, and received a Purple Heart, which is a medal soldiers receive for being wounded. John then went to pilot school. On December 12, 1944, on his way to France to fight in the Battle of the Bulge, the plane he was piloting, an A-20J Havoc, crashed. His plane was initially lost, but his body was eventually recovered. John was only 28 years old when he died. Paul, John's younger brother, remembers their father, Harry, receiving a telegram saying that John was missing along with some other soldiers.

John's family somewhat liked that he wanted to enlist in the Air Force, but they said that they missed him terribly. John had never married nor had any children.

Written by: Stephanie Pankonen, East Junior High School