John Owen Herrick

Sergeant John Owen Herrick, United States Army, of Emporia, Kansas, was killed in action on June 6, 1944, off the coast of Omaha Beach in Normandy, France. He was 19 years old.

John was born on November 11, 1924, in Elmdale, Kansas, the son of Carl Addison and Zola (Love) Herrick. He was an All-American boy. John would mow lawns, and refuse any payment. However, if there was pie, he would gladly take a slice. John and his brothers loved to ride motorcycles, and they all had their own. He was very athletic in high school, and was involved in sports. He loved spending time with his family, friends, and his dogs.

John worked for his father Carl Herrick when he decided to enlist in the Army. Alongside him were three of his closest friends. He served with the 149th Engineer Combat Battalion. On June 6, 1944, he was aboard the infantry landing craft USS LCI(L)-92, which carried approximately 25 crew members and 200 soldiers for the D-Day landings in Normandy, France. The landing craft never reached the beach, and all lives were lost.

Among his family, siblings Carl Addison Herrick Jr., Bill Herrick and Bernice H. (Herrick) Keehn have all died earlier. Also deceased are his nephews John Owen Herrick, Michael Dan Herrick and niece Billie Ruth Herrick.

Survivors include nephew, Gail Herrick; nieces Kathy (Harry) Lamb, LuAnn (Mike) Fields; great-nieces Pamela Herrick, Jennifer Birk, Stephanie Scheve, Molly Meier, Shana Phillips, Jamie Cristali, Kindra McCormick, Alexandra Fields, Miranda Maharrey, Michelle Herrick; and great-nephews Brian Herrick, Jason Herrick, Dustyn Tobin, Bryan Herrick and Daniel Herrick.

Repatriation of Sgt. John Owen Herrick will be at 2:30 P.M. Monday, November 11, 2024, at Maplewood Memorial Lawn Cemetery, 2000 Prairie Street, Emporia, Kansas, 66801. Sgt. Herrick will be escorted to Roberts-Blue-Barnett Funeral Home Friday, November 8, 2024.