John Lawrence Wagner

       John "Jack" Lawrence Wagner was a member of the Spring Class of 1968 at Abraham Lincoln High School in San Francisco.

        He was born on July 17, 1949, in Freeport, Illinois, to Ford Lester and Louise Mary (Fitz) Wagner. His father was born on April 11, 1909, in Michigan and died in San Francisco on March 22, 1972. Louise, his mother, was born in Freeport, Illinois, on November 1, 1910, and died on January 23, 1994, in Pacifica, California. His father was an engineer for the Illinois Central Railroad.

        Jack's parents had two other children born in Freeport, Illinois: Ford Thomas "Sonny" born on July 3, 1940, and Cheryl Ann, born on November 2, 1946. His mother married previously, Charles Henry Hanson and one son, Laverne Edward, was born to this marriage. Charles was born on January 7, 1929.

        Laverne married Pauline Marie (Hardt), who was born on January 25, 1930. They had four children born in Rock Falls, Illinois: Laverne Edward, Cindy Lee, Linda Marie, and Sandy Lynn.

        Sonny married Carolyn (Webb), who was born in Oakland, California, on June 2, 1944. Carolyn had two children born in Napa, California, in a previous marriage: Katherine Adele Lewis, born on November 14, 1974, and Michael Brian Lewis, born on October 28, 1976.

        Cheryl married Robert M. Berry in San Francisco. He was born on October 27, 1939, in Kenedy, Texas. They had two children: John Robert, born in Marin County on January 13, 1970, and Kate Louise, born on May 1, 1976, in San Francisco. Cheryl graduated from Mercy High School in San Francisco.

        When he was 11 yers old, his family moved to San Francisco and Jack, as he was known to everyone, subsequently enrolled at Aptos Junior High School. After graduating from Aptos Junior High School. After graduating from Aptos in June 1964, he entered Abraham Lincoln , he was called "Wags" Jack acquired the unique ability while at Lincoln to make people feel that they were a special part of his life. This made him many friends. In his junior year, he played on the Junior Varsity Football Team. However, in his senior year he decided not to play Football. Instead, he became active in the Drama Club and its productions. He played a major role in the production of Little Foxes. Jack excelled in woodshop, and his teacher encourged him to pursue woodworking as a career. He graduated in the Fifty fourth Commencement Class at Abraham Lincoln on June 11, 1968.

        Immediately after graduating, he entered the military service wth the U. S. Army. After completing basic and advanced training, he was ordered in July 1970 to the Vietnam Theater of Opereations and assigned to Company D, 21st Infantry Regiment, American Division. While on a combat patrol in Quang Nagi Province, South Vietnam, on October 2, 1970, he was killed by small arms fire. He was awarded, posthumously, the Purple Heart Medal. At the time of his death, he was a private first class and was 21 years old.

        He is listed in the Combat Area Casualties, 1957-1986, Records of the Office of the Secretary of Defense, as being a private and killed in action on October 2, 1970.

        John L. Wagner's name is engraved on Panel 7W, Row 108, on the Vietnam Memorial Wall in Washington, D. C.

        His remains were returned to the United States and interred on October 9, 1970, in the Golden Gate National Cemetery, San Bruno, San Mateo County, California, in Section M. Grave #112.