John Howard Gordon

Commander John Howard Gordon, USN, Retired, passed away on June 16, 2024, with his wife of 56 years and his children at his side. A loving husband, beloved father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, John was the cornerstone of the family.

Born March 1, 1944, in Anniston, Alabama to First Lieutenant Alvin and Ruth Gordon, he and his younger brother Jim were raised in an Army family that eventually settled in Arlington, Texas. He graduated from University of Texas at Arlington in 1966 with a degree in History and later completed his Master’s Degree at Salve Regina University in Newport, Rhode Island. In 1967 he enlisted in the Navy beginning his 26 year service to the military.

In the summer of 1968, John met his wife, Lauri, at the Rose festival in Portland, Oregon. Lauri was a local girl taking in the sights and touring the ships. John, a dashing young officer, was fortunate enough to be her tour guide. Just four months after meeting, John and Lauri were married. They had three children, Lisa, Scott, and Emily. John was the leader of the FFO’s (Fun Family Outings), “death march” hikes, and Sunday drives that led the family to see all there was to see at each of their ten duty stations. Their travels across the United States and overseas were always eventful. Perhaps none more so than when John auditioned for and was selected to be Santa Clause at Tokyo Disneyland. This unleashed his talents for acting, singing, and dancing. John was truly a modern renaissance man, complete with his ability to control a
yo-yo and ride a bike backwards.

John had some of the finest attributes of a cowboy. His slow, quiet western drawl combined with his sly grin that would blossom into a hearty laugh were hallmarks of his personality. His dry sense of humor kept some of us laughing and others guessing just what it was he had said. John loved music, especially classic country. He combined that love with his wit and humor often suggesting new country song titles based off of comical events or observations. For Lauri and the children, it was an early form of dad jokes, replete with all the appropriate groans, but for John it always brought a twinkle to his eye and that sly grin. He often said that a truly great western song could even be played backwards, and the fella’s truck would get fixed, his dog would come back, and his girl would mend his broken heart.

John excelled at being a father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. Both he and Lauri shared a deep love and respect for their children. John loved his family deeply and, though it was rare he said it directly, he demonstrated his love by always being in the stands, camera ready, at all of their activities and big life events no matter how far he had to travel to be there. His pride in each and every one of his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren was evident in the stories and brags he shared with us all.

John truly loved life! Heeding to the Gordon Clan saying, “do well and let them say”, he never stopped learning and encouraged others to do the same. John attended culinary school and became “head chef” for his family and friends. He was also a collegiate footballer, runner, kayaker, racquetball player, Officer’s Club martini drinking shuffleboard player, sports car driver, avid photographer, professor and lifelong traveler. John’s family especially appreciated his love of writing and editing skills. It’s safe to say, his children and grandchildren relied on his expertise in this area and he relished the opportunity to always be their “ghost writer”.

If you were lucky enough to be a friend of John’s, you had a friend for life. Even though John never lived in one place for more than a few years at a time, he was still in contact with friends from elementary school and all the years to follow. It was never good enough for him to just send a card and certainly never a text. He believed that if you really cared about your friends, you showed that through a call or a visit. Every Christmas, he called his friends; friends that have admitted they would have lost touch if it wasn’t for his persistence. Some of these friends, the original “Swifties”, those that served with him on the Swift Boats in Vietnam, also had the privilege of a yearly gathering in various places around the country.

John’s service to his country was in both war and peace. In Vietnam he was the Officer in Charge of a U.S. Navy Swift Boat (PCF-70) in active and intense combat with the enemy where he was awarded the Bronze Star with a combat V to recognize his exceptional leadership, courage, and skill. That same courage and leadership was demonstrated yet again years later when John heroically entered a burning building several times to save the lives of those trapped inside. Despite requiring a helicopter evacuation to a major trauma center for treatment of burns to his body, he did not leave the scene until everyone was successfully
rescued from the conflagration. John was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Medal for his actions, the highest non-combat award for heroism.

In addition to his duty in Vietnam, John served on the USS OKLAHOMA CITY (CLG-5), USS BRINKLEY BASS (DD-887), USS ORLECK (DD-886), USS CAMDEN (AOE-2), and USS McKEAN (DD-784). Shore assignments include NROTC UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA, Naval Recruiting District Raleigh, North Carolina, Naval recruiting District Louisville, Kentucky, Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Island, Fleet Coordination Group, Yokota, Japan and as Commanding Officer, Enlisted Personnel, Puget Sound Naval Shipyard. In this final assignment he commanded over five thousand active-duty personnel, over eight thousand retired personnel, and over four hundred units of family housing. His sterling leadership placed Puget Sound Naval Shipyard at the forefront of Naval Activities by being awarded the Department of Defense Installation Excellence award and Three Zumwalt awards for the best quality enlisted housing in
the Navy.

A decorated military officer, John was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal (two awards), Navy Achievement Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, Meritorious Unit Commendations, Navy Expeditionary Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Navy Recruiting Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Republic of Vietnam Meritorious Medal, and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, in addition to the two medals previously mentioned.

John served his family and his nation with distinction. He was a hero in battle and in peace and loved dearly by family and friends alike. Though his time with us was too short he enriched all of our lives. John is survived by his wife Lauri; their three children: Lisa, Scott and Emily; their eight grandchildren: Alison, Sophie, Jake, Delia, Ilinca, Louisa, Oliver, and Amelia; and their three great-grandchildren: Adalyn, Jackson, and Kennedy. He is also survived by his brother Jim.

Internment will be held at the Tahoma National Cemetery, Kent, Washington on 15 August at 11:30 AM. Reception to follow at Grill in the Woods at Druids Glen Golf Club. Rest in peace John Gordon. Fair winds and following seas.