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John Vaughn Hemler, Jr. was born in Carlsbad, New Mexico, on July 6, 1929, and died on Saturday, September 25, 2010. He was preceded in death by his wife of 56 years, Marjorie June on March 16, 2007. He is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Kathleen Ann and Richard Mason of Phoenix, AZ; his son John Russell Hemler of Glendale, AZ; his brother Charles R. Hemler of Mesquite, TX; four grandsons, Matthew, David, Daniel and Michael Mason; one granddaughter Karissa Hemler; and two great-grandchildren Richard and Lucy Mason. At age three, he and his family moved from Carlsbad to northern New Mexico, where he grew up in various national forests where his father was employed. At age 12, his family returned to Carlsbad, where he graduated from Carlsbad High School in May 1947. During his high school years, he was active in student affairs, was elected to the National Honor Society during his junior year, and was student body treasurer during his senior year. He was also a member of the Order of Demolay, rising to the positions of Chapter Master Councilor and was elected State Senior Councilor during his senior year. John received an appointment to the United States Military Academy from New Mexico Congresswoman Georgia Lusk, and entered the Academy at West Point on July 1, 1947. In June 1951, he was graduated as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army Air Defense Artillery and was married to Marjorie June Ericksen at West Point. For the next 28 years, John served in various positions and locations in the United States, Germany, Korea, and Vietnam. In 1958, the U.S. Army sent him to graduate school at the University of Arizona, where he graduated in 1960 with a Master's Degree in Nuclear Engineering/ Nuclear Physics. For much of the rest of his career, he was engaged in nuclear activities, ranging from atmospheric nuclear device testing in Nevada (1962), planning and conducting underground nuclear tests (1965-1968), commanding a nuclear-capable artillery battalion in Germany (1968-1970), chairing a US Interdepartmental Delegation to a NATO group studying the effects of new technology on nuclear warfare, to his final assignment with the Defense Nuclear Agency, Kirtland AFB, where he was involved in the planning for, and implementation of, the cleanup of nuclear contamination caused by 1950s nuclear testing at Eniwetok Atoll, Marshall Islands, Western Pacific (1976-1979). In Vietnam, he commanded a multi-national (Australia; New Zealand, Korea, U.S.) Special Forces Group which trained Vietnamese and Cambodian military units in all combat regions of South Vietnam. In January, 1979, John retired from active duty, in the rank of Colonel, at Kirtland AFB. His military decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit (three OLC), Bronze Star (one OLC), Army Meritorious Service (one OLC), Vietnamese Distinguished Service Medal, Presidential Unit Citation, and Parachute Badge (U.S., Vietnamese and Cambodian). Following his Army retirement, John worked for the BDM Corporation, in Albuquerque, initially as a Director, and then as Assistant Vice President, Strategic Systems, until his retirement in February 1985, to become involved in New Mexico Politics. In March 1985, he was elected Chairman of the Bernalillo County Republican Party, and served in that position until March 1987. He remained active in New Mexico Politics, assisting in recruiting good candidates for office; assisting in candidate campaigns, and working as presiding judge at a number of primary and general election voting locations. John was also very active in community affairs, as a Director on the Taylor Ranch Neighborhood Association Board, as a member of the Albuquerque Parks and Recreation Board, and in working with several City Administrations in eliminating graffiti in Taylor Ranch. John was Vice President of the Albuquerque Chapter of the West Point Society (1985-2005), High School/ UNM ROTC Awards Chairman of the Retired Officers Association (1994-2006) and the Association of the U.S. Army (2003-2006), and a member of the Sigma Pi Sigma National Physics Society. Visitation will be held on Sunday, October 3, 2010 at 1:00 p.m., at Heritage Funeral Chapel, 6830 W. Thunderbird Rd. Peoria, AZ. Funeral Service to follow at 2:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that remembrance donations be made to the United Services Organizations (USO) World Headquarters, P.O. Box 96898, Washington DC 20090 or to your local chapter of the American Cancer Society.
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