John R. Bartosh was born on June 6th, 1924. His father John Sr. emigrated from Czechoslovakia. His father worked as a chauffeur on Chesterbrook farm. He served in the Army in World War I and was wounded in Alsace Lorraine. John Sr. married Mary Kois and resided on Howellville Rd. (today Bear Hill Rd.) in Berwyn. They had three children: John, Dorothy, and George.

John attended Paoli elementary School, Junior High School and Tredyffrin/Easttown High School. John became a member of his family's church, St. Monicas in Berwyn. During High School he played varsity football as tackle, and played the violin in the school orchestra.

John became known as an accomplished violinist. During his senior year, the Philadelphia orchestra held auditions for talented high school musicians in southeast Pennsylvania and southern New Jersey. They were searching for talent to accompany them in a production of Gilbert and Sullivan's HMS Pinafore. John was one of the few students chosen to accompany them at the Academy of Music.

John graduated in 1942. He pursued his talent, but had to make a living. He obtained employment in Phoenixville as a crane operator in a quarry run by the Heckett Corporation, which worked with Phoenixville Steel.

John enlisted the Army in the summer of 1943 to defend his country. He received training as a Sherman Tank gunner was sent overseas the summer of 1944, and was assigned to the 8th Armored Division. His Division landed in France in January 1945. The 8th Armor ("Thundering Herd") was assigned to support the northern end of the allied line of advance. They drove the Germans back across the Saar River, then were sent into Belgium to advance east into Germany, and the Rhine River on March 26th. His division continued east driving towards the Elbe River and encountered the 11th Panzer Division near the Harz Mountains. After several days of hard fighting they defeated the Panzers. After the Germans surrendered, the Division was sent into Czechoslovakia, where John used his skill as an interpreter.

John later became part of the occupation force in Germany. In January, he was stationed near Regensburg, Germany. His unit was running out of supplies and John volunteered to drive a truck to the depot. On January 10, 1946, the truck became stuck on the snow covered icy roads. In an effort to free the truck, it slid, rolled over and killed John.

His unit held a memorial service. John was buried in the Lorraine American Cemetery, St. Avold, France. At home, St. Monicas held a memorial mass.

His employer, upon hearing of the loss, wrote to John's father:

"I have often said that if I were to have a son I would not want him to be a bit different than Johnnie. If ever there was a perfect specimen of young man, it was he, and then too he was such a clean living and dependable boy."