John Easley served in the U.S. Marine Corps as a Lieutenant Colonel and Commanding Officer of the 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, Fleet Marine Force in World War II. He was killed by a Japanese sniper in a surprise attack on Tinian Island, Northern Mariana Islands, in the Pacific Ocean August 2, 1944. He received the following awards: Silver Star, Purple Heart with gold star, American Defense Service Medal with Fleet clasp, Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal, and Victory Medal World War II.
