John Grinnell served in the U.S. Navy as a Lieutenant (Junior Grade) during the Korean War. A Naval Aviator and Flying Instructor, he died on January 12, 1954 as a result of injuries received in parachuting from his disabled training airplane near Brewton, Alabama. He had been instructing a cadet flyer in the final phase of instruction. He saved the life of the cadet by ordering him to bail out. Lt. Grinnell was deployed to Korea for three periods of service and was awarded three Air Medals. In 1951 he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for heroism and extraordinary achievement in aerial flight as a member of a patrol plane crew in Patrol Squadron 47 during operations in Korea.
