John J. Morley, Jr. was born on April 13, 1947. His home of record is Bayonne, NJ. He attended Bayonne High School and Jersey City State College. John was employed by the Western Electric Company before enlisting in the US Army on August 18, 1966.

Following enlistment, he received basic training at Fort Campbell, KY, and Fort Lewis, WA. Morley graduated from Army Officers Candidate School in Fort Benning, GA, and became a Second Lieutenant (2LT) on August 24, 1967. While in Vietnam, Morley was promoted to First Lieutenant (1LT).

On October 24, 1968, after being in Vietnam for approximately two months, Morley was killed in action in South Vietnam in an encounter with enemy forces while on patrol.

In a final letter to his parents, sent on October 16, 1968, he told them of an ambush against his platoon by the Vietcong. During the ensuing battle, 20 of the enemy were killed and one of his men was lost.

Morley also told his parents that he was in good spirits despite a close call one night in the Mekong Delta area. That time, a nearby tent was hit by enemy fire and almost destroyed.

Sources: Newspaper clippings and NJVVMF.
12/17/2024