John H. Bristley was born on 22 May 1913, in Marion, Ohio. His mother is Alice Bristley. John had sister who was serving as a Lieutenant in the Army Nurses Corps, Lt. Ruth E. (Bristley) Rice and a brother serving as a Corporal, Cpl. Paul E. Bristley, who was serving at Camp Millard, Bucyrus, Ohio. John Bristley attended Harding High School and had worked at the Bowe Ice Cream Company prior to entering service.
John H. Bristley enlisted in 1938. He spent 18 months serving in Iceland before being transferred to England. In August of 1944 PFC Bristley was sent to France. PFC Bristley was originally reported as Missing in Action (M. I. A.), on 3 December 1944. He had attained the rank of Private First Class (PFC), and was serving with the 10th Infantry Regiment, Fifth Infantry Division “Red Diamond and Red Devils.”
PFC John H. Bristley was killed in action by the result of injuries from artillery fragments on 8 December 1944. He is buried in Lorraine American Cemetery and Memorial, Saint-Avold, Departement de la Moselle, Lorraine, France.
Among the awards received were, the European Service Ribbon, Purple Heart and the Silver Star Medal.
PFC John H. Bristley is remembered on the Honor Roll, at the Veterans Memorial Park, in Marion, Ohio; on the west wall of the Marion County Courthouse; and on the World War Two Memorial Wall, at the Marion Cemetery.
Honoring Marion Ohio Veterans 