John “Jack” Squire World War II
John Alfred Squire, better known as Jack, was a well-known and wellloved personality in this community. His funeral in 1971 was one of the largest military funerals in community history. Jack also had a very illustrious military career, as you will see.
Jack was born to Grover and Mary Ann Squire on Sept. 14, 1918, at Ashland, NE. He was the youngest of seven children, and there were only a couple years between the other siblings, while he was born nine years after the other kids. This is sometimes called a caboose baby, which is ironic considering both he, his brothers, and his father at one point all worked for the railroad.
When he was 15 years old, his father died, and he and his mother ended up living with his older brother and his family. This is where I found him in the 1940 census, at age 21, working at the CB&Q as an agent’s helper. This is about the time that he married Irma Pedrick and became a regular agent, where he worked until he was inducted into the Army on May 28, 1941.
The following information about his service is taken from his obituary, but edited for space limitations: Jack received two promotions as a non-commissioned officer, first to a corporal and then staff sergeant. In 1943, he was selected for Officers' Candidate School and received his commission as second lieutenant. In 1943 he was assigned to the XII Corps which became the “Spearhead of General Patton’s Third Army Group.”
Jack received clearance from the FBI to handle secret information and was assigned to Gen. Patton’s headquarters staff. The 12th Corp arrived in Greenoch, Scotland on April 16, 1944, and participated in the invasion of Normandy, landing on Utah Beach July 27, 1944.
Jack served under Gen. Patton throughout all of the 12th Corps’ battles and campaigns. During that time, he was promoted to first lieutenant and then received a
battlefield promotion to captain in 1945. He earned four bronze stars for meritorious service and was entitled to wear the Bronze Star Ribbon, American Defense Ribbon and the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater Ribbon.
As part of the headquarters staff and eventual signal officer for the 12th Corps, Jack participated in war room conferences and on many occasions, conferred with General Patton, Eisenhower and Bradley. He was honorably discharged on Jan. 2, 1946, at Ft. Leavenworth, KS.
Jack and Irma and their daughter Patty then moved to Plainview where he had been assigned as agent on the CB&Q. Their children Michael (who also later worked for the railroad), Peggy and Mary were born there, and when they moved to Osmond in 1953, their daughter Susan was born.
Jack was agent in Osmond until 1968 when he became a company service representative and became the first mobile unit on the Burlington in Nebraska, driving between Osmond and O’Neill.
On July 25, 1971, Jack underwent an emergency operation at Lincoln General Hospital, which preceded his death on Aug. 3. He was 52 years old.
Eight of Jack’s friends were pallbearers and 17 were honorary pallbearers. Following the military funeral Mass attended by theAmerican Legion, the Osmond Fire Department and a church full of relatives and friends, Captain Squire was saluted at St. Mary’s Cemetery by his comrades in arms consisting of an honor guard, Color guard, sergeant at arms and firing squad with an 18-gun salute.
“Taps” was played by Joe Engler.
An honor guard was also formed at the church and the cemetery by 11 members of the fire department, recognizing the active role Jack played as a member of the department. According to daughter Mary, Jack at one time served as fire chief in Osmond, in addition to being a member of the department.
Thanks to Mary Squire Drahota for the picture of her father.
