John Robert Rodgers Sr.

John Robert Rodgers, Sr. 9 Feb 1923 – 9 Jun 2025 John Rodgers was the oldest child and first son of Robert William ‘Billie’ Rodgers and Margaret Ellen ‘Madge’ (Carter), and was born in Temple, Bell Co, Texas. He had a younger brother and sister. During his last year of high school, where he said he was not a particularly strong math student, he joined the Texas National Guard outside of Paris, Texas so as to earn the drill rate of $1.00 a week to help with the family expenses. In 1940, when his guard unit was notified it was going to be called up and he was only 17, his company Captain advised him that he did not have to go, that he could resign, but he declined that offer and went off with his company when they were activated prior to WW II. Since his Guard unit was a medical unit, he was sent to the US Army Fitzsimmons Hospital, Denver, Colorado, for formal training. During that time, the “War Department” put out a call for all interested to apply for pilot training which he did. He was accepted, and attended basic flight training at Brooks Field, Texas. Upon completion he was Commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant and sent for reconnaissance flight training. Upon being transferred to North Africa he was assigned to a dive bomber unit and the A36 (initial model of the P51) aircraft. He was only there for a short while and a few flights, and during one flight over Sicily he was shot down by ground fire; bailed out and was captured by a German Sergeant. As a result of his shoot-down, he was wounded and received the Purple Heart. For the next year and several months he was a POW of the Germans – and in 1986 he was awarded the POW medal. When Gen. George Patton landed in Europe and his army was liberating allied POW camps the Germans decided to prevent the allied POWs from being returned to the Allies, moving all their remaining POWs to Germany. This was during January, in the dead of winter, and resulted in the longest forced march, lasting more than 30 days, and covering more than 300 miles - John Rodgers, was part of that march, during which his feet were severely frost-bitten. While interred in POW camp, he met and became close friends with 1st Lieutenant Harry Everet Evans. After being repatriated and before returning home he met Faye Hope Evans (sister of Everet) on a blind date for both. They were married a couple weeks later. John stayed in the Army Air Force and was transferred to the U.S. Air Force when it was created in 1949. The U.S. Air Force refused to credit his underage service with the Texas National Guard, requiring him to stay on active duty longer before retiring. He finally retired in 1961, after 20 years (credited) active military duty and the family moved to sunny Florida. He continued to fly and was the corporate pilot for Gulf American Land Corporation. As a result of a complete hearing loss caused by flight operations and continuing to suffer from neuropathy of the feet he was awarded a 100% disability after his military retirement. In 1985 he decided to fully retire and to stay in Florida. In 2007, his wife of 62 years passed away and is buried in Barrancas National Cemetery, NAS, Pensacola, Florida. On 9 June 2025, after living 102 years and four months, to the day, John R. Rodgers, Sr., passed away peacefully at home with his son, John Jr., and family. He was a good father, always worked to be the example of the person he wanted his children to be. Everyone was proud to be related to and to have known him. He will be greatly missed. He is survived by his son, John R. Rodgers, Jr., and wife Meredith, of Pensacola, Florida and William H. Rodgers of Fort White, Florida; Sisters: Kathy Rodgers, of Seabrook, Texas, Susan and husband Angelo Papalexanderis, of Houston, Texas; Grandchildren: Krisite and husband John Peppers, of Pensacola, Florida, Renee Rodgers, Ft White, Florida, Adam and Katie Rodgers, Boca Raton, Florida; Jeromy and Veronica Rodgers, Davie, Florida; and eight Great Grandchildren, Amber and Byron Hall-Peppers, Morgan Peppers, John Peppers, Katherine Peppers, Kalie Rodgers, Torie Rodgers, Kemie Rodgers, and Tiana Rodgers. Interment will be at Fort Barrancas National Cemetery, Naval Air Station, Pensacola, Florida at 2:00 P.M. 2 July 2025. The story of the Gen Patton liberation of the camps and the forced march is told in the book, Raid!: The Untold Story of Patton’s Secret Mission, by Richard Baron. Video interviews of John R. Rodgers, Sr., by Witness To War, Atlanta, GA, can be found at http://www.Witnesstowar.org

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John Robert Rodgers Sr.

February 9, 1923 - June 9, 2025