John Zacharias Endress was born 20 Sept 1914, the youngest child of William Fitzhugh Endress (17 Jul 1880 - 7 Sep 1915) and Abby Van Buren Wright Endress (13 Apr 1877 - 20 Jan 1967) in the Panama Canal Zone where his father was stationed with the U.S. Navy. Zach (as he was known) had one older brother, James W Endress (12 Jan 1911 - 11 Aug 1978) and one older sister, Elizabeth Endress Bartlett (6 Sep 1912 - 16 Feb 1991).
Because Zach's father was serving in the Navy the family was either moving around or living without him. Two weeks before Zach turned a year old his father passed away leaving Zach's mother to raise her three children. Shortly after losing her husband Abby moved her family to Berkeley California where Zach grew up and received his primary education. After graduating from high school Zach enrolled in the University of California at Berkeley.
Zach followed in his father's footsteps and received an appointment to West Point where he graduated in 1941 and was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant. A notation in the West Point Yearbook for 1941 states: "One of the grandest humors in the Corps arrived with Zach. A knee injury during yearling year lost him to the Academy as a promising football player. Though faithful to his red comforter Zach applied himself diligently to academics and with little difficulty stood high on the Academy roster. He was at a loss whether to sit astride a flesh and blood steed or a steel-winged Pegasus. But be it either horses or horsepower, Zach will earn a name for himself."
On 17 Oct 1941 2nd Lieutenant Endress enlisted in the Army Air Corps, Service Number: 0-22997 and was attached to the 347th fighter group, HQ Sq 13 FTR Command. While with the HQ Sq 12 FTR Command 2nd Lieutenant Endress received the following Citation: "Major (Air Corps) John Zachariah Endress (ASN: 0-22997), United States Army Air Forces, was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight while serving with Headquarters Squadron, 13th Fighter Command, during World War II. The skillful and zealous manner in which he has sought out the enemy and destroyed him, his devotion to duty and courage under all conditions serve as an inspiration to his fellow flyers. His actions on all these occasions reflect the highest credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of the United States.
On12 Jan 1945,Major (Air Corps) John Zachariah Endress (ASN: 0-22997), United States Army Air Forces, was shot down during an air mission and was captured by Japanese forces four days later. He was held as a Prisoner of War (Indonesia) until his death in captivity on or about 13 February 1945.
Major Endress' remains were brought back to the United States and were buried at Arlington National Cemetery Arlington, Arlington County, Virginia, Sec: 2, Site: 3665 CL along with his parents, Captain William F.Endress and Abby Endress
Because Zach's father was serving in the Navy the family was either moving around or living without him. Two weeks before Zach turned a year old his father passed away leaving Zach's mother to raise her three children. Shortly after losing her husband Abby moved her family to Berkeley California where Zach grew up and received his primary education. After graduating from high school Zach enrolled in the University of California at Berkeley.
Zach followed in his father's footsteps and received an appointment to West Point where he graduated in 1941 and was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant. A notation in the West Point Yearbook for 1941 states: "One of the grandest humors in the Corps arrived with Zach. A knee injury during yearling year lost him to the Academy as a promising football player. Though faithful to his red comforter Zach applied himself diligently to academics and with little difficulty stood high on the Academy roster. He was at a loss whether to sit astride a flesh and blood steed or a steel-winged Pegasus. But be it either horses or horsepower, Zach will earn a name for himself."
On 17 Oct 1941 2nd Lieutenant Endress enlisted in the Army Air Corps, Service Number: 0-22997 and was attached to the 347th fighter group, HQ Sq 13 FTR Command. While with the HQ Sq 12 FTR Command 2nd Lieutenant Endress received the following Citation: "Major (Air Corps) John Zachariah Endress (ASN: 0-22997), United States Army Air Forces, was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight while serving with Headquarters Squadron, 13th Fighter Command, during World War II. The skillful and zealous manner in which he has sought out the enemy and destroyed him, his devotion to duty and courage under all conditions serve as an inspiration to his fellow flyers. His actions on all these occasions reflect the highest credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of the United States.
On12 Jan 1945,Major (Air Corps) John Zachariah Endress (ASN: 0-22997), United States Army Air Forces, was shot down during an air mission and was captured by Japanese forces four days later. He was held as a Prisoner of War (Indonesia) until his death in captivity on or about 13 February 1945.
Major Endress' remains were brought back to the United States and were buried at Arlington National Cemetery Arlington, Arlington County, Virginia, Sec: 2, Site: 3665 CL along with his parents, Captain William F.Endress and Abby Endress
John Zacharias Endress was born 20 Sept 1914, the youngest child of William Fitzhugh Endress (17 Jul 1880 - 7 Sep 1915) and Abby Van Buren Wright Endress (13 Apr 1877 - 20 Jan 1967) in the Panama Canal Zone where his father was stationed with the U.S. Navy. Zach (as he was known) had one older brother, James W Endress (12 Jan 1911 - 11 Aug 1978) and one older sister, Elizabeth Endress Bartlett (6 Sep 1912 - 16 Feb 1991).
Because Zach's father was serving in the Navy the family was either moving around or living without him. Two weeks before Zach turned a year old his father passed away leaving Zach's mother to raise her three children. Shortly after losing her husband Abby moved her family to Berkeley California where Zach grew up and received his primary education. After graduating from high school Zach enrolled in the University of California at Berkeley.
Zach followed in his father's footsteps and received an appointment to West Point where he graduated in 1941 and was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant. A notation in the West Point Yearbook for 1941 states: "One of the grandest humors in the Corps arrived with Zach. A knee injury during yearling year lost him to the Academy as a promising football player. Though faithful to his red comforter Zach applied himself diligently to academics and with little difficulty stood high on the Academy roster. He was at a loss whether to sit astride a flesh and blood steed or a steel-winged Pegasus. But be it either horses or horsepower, Zach will earn a name for himself."
On 17 Oct 1941 2nd Lieutenant Endress enlisted in the Army Air Corps, Service Number: 0-22997 and was attached to the 347th fighter group, HQ Sq 13 FTR Command. While with the HQ Sq 12 FTR Command 2nd Lieutenant Endress received the following Citation: "Major (Air Corps) John Zachariah Endress (ASN: 0-22997), United States Army Air Forces, was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight while serving with Headquarters Squadron, 13th Fighter Command, during World War II. The skillful and zealous manner in which he has sought out the enemy and destroyed him, his devotion to duty and courage under all conditions serve as an inspiration to his fellow flyers. His actions on all these occasions reflect the highest credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of the United States.
On12 Jan 1945,Major (Air Corps) John Zachariah Endress (ASN: 0-22997), United States Army Air Forces, was shot down during an air mission and was captured by Japanese forces four days later. He was held as a Prisoner of War (Indonesia) until his death in captivity on or about 13 February 1945.
Major Endress' remains were brought back to the United States and were buried at Arlington National Cemetery Arlington, Arlington County, Virginia, Sec: 2, Site: 3665 CL along with his parents, Captain William F.Endress and Abby Endress
Because Zach's father was serving in the Navy the family was either moving around or living without him. Two weeks before Zach turned a year old his father passed away leaving Zach's mother to raise her three children. Shortly after losing her husband Abby moved her family to Berkeley California where Zach grew up and received his primary education. After graduating from high school Zach enrolled in the University of California at Berkeley.
Zach followed in his father's footsteps and received an appointment to West Point where he graduated in 1941 and was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant. A notation in the West Point Yearbook for 1941 states: "One of the grandest humors in the Corps arrived with Zach. A knee injury during yearling year lost him to the Academy as a promising football player. Though faithful to his red comforter Zach applied himself diligently to academics and with little difficulty stood high on the Academy roster. He was at a loss whether to sit astride a flesh and blood steed or a steel-winged Pegasus. But be it either horses or horsepower, Zach will earn a name for himself."
On 17 Oct 1941 2nd Lieutenant Endress enlisted in the Army Air Corps, Service Number: 0-22997 and was attached to the 347th fighter group, HQ Sq 13 FTR Command. While with the HQ Sq 12 FTR Command 2nd Lieutenant Endress received the following Citation: "Major (Air Corps) John Zachariah Endress (ASN: 0-22997), United States Army Air Forces, was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight while serving with Headquarters Squadron, 13th Fighter Command, during World War II. The skillful and zealous manner in which he has sought out the enemy and destroyed him, his devotion to duty and courage under all conditions serve as an inspiration to his fellow flyers. His actions on all these occasions reflect the highest credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of the United States.
On12 Jan 1945,Major (Air Corps) John Zachariah Endress (ASN: 0-22997), United States Army Air Forces, was shot down during an air mission and was captured by Japanese forces four days later. He was held as a Prisoner of War (Indonesia) until his death in captivity on or about 13 February 1945.
Major Endress' remains were brought back to the United States and were buried at Arlington National Cemetery Arlington, Arlington County, Virginia, Sec: 2, Site: 3665 CL along with his parents, Captain William F.Endress and Abby Endress
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