John was the fourth of six children and named after his grandfather, an Army colonel. From an early age, he stood up to bullies and protected the defenseless. He was a Boy Scout and loved playing baseball and racquetball. He graduated from Sunset High School in Portland, Oregon, in 2010 and earned a baseball scholarship to a community college in Eureka, California.

In 2011, John enlisted in the U.S. Army as a signals intelligence analyst. He completed basic training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, and advanced individual training at Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas. In February 2013, he joined Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group, at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He deployed to Afghanistan in October 2013. On February 12, 2014, he died from wounds sustained by small-arms fire during combat operations in Kapisa Province.

His legacy lives on through his family, fiancée, friends, and comrades—as well as through the Live Like John Foundation and an annual racquetball tournament held in his honor.