American Valor is an inspirational book about the youngest soldier ever awarded the Medal of Honor for Heroism in American History. He was just seventeen years old when he gave his life in a blaze of glory on a battlefield in North Korea in April 1951. Having already killed scores of enemy invaders, he volunteered to stay and cover the withdrawal of his comrades in arms. He was never seen again and his body has never been recovered.

This book tells the story of his family, of his education and growing up in depression era Arkansas. Finally the details of this enlistment in the U.S. Army, his combat training and details of his military experience, including six full months of combat in Korea beginning at the Chosin Reservoir.

American Valor is one of a series of Valor books about American Military Medal of Honor recipients. It is a significant contribution to Military History and should be in the personal libraries of every man, woman and child in America.

John is proud of the military heritage of his family. His father, Murray California volunteered for duty in World War I and his only brother enlisted in the Marine Corps durning World War II. Numerous cousins and other relatives have served with distinctions in the military.

After the Korean War John attended Texarkana College in Texarkana, Texas. In 1957 he earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in History from Ouachita University, Arkadelphia, Arkansas. In 1959 he was awarded a Masters of Arts Degree in History from the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas. He earned his Doctor of Philosophy Degree at Pacific Western University, Los Angeles, California in 1997. John is a Credentialed Special Education Teacher thru California State University, Sacramento. He retired in June 2006.

John's other publications include The Official California Handbook for School District Mapping; Haley – A Novel; and California Valor – A Biography of Charles Harold Gonsalves was awarded the Medal of Honor in World War II, Battle of Okinawa.

John is the father of two daughters. He has five grandchildren and two great grandchildren. You can contact him online at ptolemy1@aol.com.