John Ferdinand Goring
T/5 in 603rd Engineer Camouflage Bn : Co D, 4th Platoon
ASN#33273239 Casualty: Wounded
Born 1915 in PA, Died 1965
Artist
Other residence(s): Corry, PA; Ridgway, PA
United States Army, European Theatre of Operations
John F. Goring was born in Corry, PA on June 23, 1915. He completed two years of high school. The 1940 census says he was working as a laborer at/on a skating rink; his October 1940 draft card says he was a self-employed farmer, and that he worked for the Erie & Crawford Co.
He enlisted on July 10, 1942, and spent 3 years and 3 months in the service. He was overseas from May 3, 1944-July 2, 1945, and his final rank was T/5. He was wounded in Operation Bouzonville in March, 1945, and received a Purple Heart. He was discharged on September 25, 1945.
He married Carmelita Elizabeth Giordano, and they lived in Ridgway, PA. They had two children: Carol and Theodore.
The 1948 and 1958 Johnsonburg, PA city directories list John as a painter at Hyde-Murphy. Hyde-Murphy* was a nationally known company in Ridgway that was, at the time, the leading manufacturer of architectural millwork in the US.
John’s grandson reports that he traveled extensively to Catholic churches, painting murals on ceilings.
John died of pancreatic cancer on March 21, 1965. His death certificate says that he worked as a painter. He is buried at St. Leo's Cemetery in Ridgway, PA.
*Hyde-Murphy was known for a high level of skill and craftsmanship. Over time they provided woodwork for the Pentagon, U.S. Supreme Court, and the Smithsonian, along with many private homes. The company closed in 1961.
Sources:
1940 draft card
1950 Pennsylvania Veterans Compensation File
1948 Johnsonburg Directory
https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/2469/2686619?pid=156073082&backurl=search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv%3D1%26dbid%3D2469%26h%3D...e
1965 Pennsylvania Death Certificate
https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/5164/47549_2421401755_0240-00546/14954760?backurl=ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/119086754/person/302007480670...d
1965 Pennsylvania Veterans Burial Card
https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/1967/31501_B019007-00484/1122858?backurl=ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/119086754/person/302007480670...d
1965 Find a Grave record
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/172274727/john-ferdinand-goring
NOTE: I could not find his enlistment record, or find him in the National Archives Army Serial Number database.