John Andrew Grycky (pronounced Gris Key) was born July 7, 1918, to Andrew and Pauline Grycky who resided at 73 South 6^th Ave in Coatesville, Pennsylvania.  John’s parents immigrated from the Ukraine. John’s father, Andrew, was a violin

playing shoemaker, and active member of the Coatesville Auxiliary Police unit. John’s mother, Pauline, was a long term volunteer at the Coatesville Veteran’s Hospital. John was the oldest of 3 children, including his brother William and sister Lillyan.

John was tall, lanky.  He was known as pleasant, an optimist, and an easy going, caring individual. John was intelligent and modestly helped other students with their studies, including fellow student, Charlotte.  He developed a relationship with Charlotte, and hoped to marry her after college. John had a love and talent for music, and became an accomplished violinist. He was chosen as a member of the all-state high school orchestra, a step towards his goal of one day playing with the renowned Philadelphia Orchestra.  The school yearbook says of John: “He is a music-minded young fellow who likes to joke.  His humor is as notable as his ability to play his violin- and appreciated almost as much.”

John was a member of the popular Grycky Trio, which included his sister as pianist, his brother on the trumpet, and John on the violin.  They charmed audiences in churches synagogues and grange meetings in the area, and sometimes on local radio stations.

John was well liked by students, and teachers.  He was a member of a group of 5 close friends who helped each other with school and personal problems, playing games and going out together: Jim Latta, Harry Lackey, and heroes Herb Hagamon, and Vernon Rubincam.   They met with others to play touch football nearly every Sunday afternoon at the Latta’s Farm, which was located on Parkesburg, on Rt. 10 and Rt. 30, where a new WalMart is located today.

John attended Coatesville schools, graduating from the S. Horace Scott High School in 1936. He then attended West Chester State Teachers College graduating in 1940 as a Music Major. Afterwards, he taught music in a private school, in addition to refining his talent.

The multi-talented John played the French Horn in the Orchestra, Concert Band, and Marching Band at West Chester State Teacher's College.

Click on each image to enlarge.  John is indicated by a white arrow.

When our nation was attacked at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1942, John set aside his musical goals to defend our nation.  All of his friends felt the same.  But Harry Lackey had a vision problem, which prevented him from enlisting in the Armed Services.  (Harry served on the home front, working at Lukens Steel, making critical castings for the Manhattan Atomic Project.)

John as well as Jim Latta, Vernon Rubicam and Herb Hagamon joined the Armed Forces.  The four called themselves the “Knights of the Square Table” because they were like knights going to defend their Country, and they were going to “Square” things up. Some say The “Knights” made a pact, that if any survived, they would attend to the families of the fallen.   John enlisted in the Navy on January 16, 1942.

After basic training, and advanced training (“A Schools”), John was assigned to serve on the new USS Juneau CL-52, a light cruiser of the Atlanta Class as a radio operator.  The Juneau was a new design, often referred to as Anti Aircraft Cruisers, in that their heaviest armament was the new rapid firing 5 inch gun – 16 on the Juneau.  The ship was launched in October and Commissioned on February 14^th.

After a shakedown cruise, John’s ship patrolled off Martinique and Guadeloupe Islands to prevent the escape of Vichy French ships, and patrolled the east coast shipping lanes.

The Juneau then transited the Panama Canal in August and headed for the South Pacific.  John’s ship joined Task Force 61 which included the aircraft carriers Wasp CV-7, and the Hornet CV-8, which was ferrying fighters to Guadalcanal.  Guadalcanal and its Henderson Airfield was crucial to the protection of Australia.  The Japanese were constructing an airfield when the Marines landed on August 7^th.  They planned to use the airstrip to further isolate Australia from the North West.  It was on these islands and the water between that heroes George Johnson, John Horshock, Leff Yale, John Toth and Harvard Fox died.

The carrier Wasp was struck by 3 torpedoes from the Japanese submarine I-19 on September 15^th.  She became a floating wreck and had to be sunk.  The Juneau and escorting destroyers rescued 1.900 survivors.

After returning the survivors, John’s ship continued to operate with TF 61 to protect and reinforce Guadalcanal.  The Juneau participated in the battle of Santa Cruz Islands October 26-27, preventing a Japanese task force from to reinforcing Guadalcanal.  During this battle, two enemy carriers were extensively damaged.  But despite the effective anti aircraft fire of the ships screening, shooting down 20 of 27 enemy aircraft, the carrier USS Hornet CV-8 was badly damaged and was sunk the following day.  The Juneau then joined the remaining carrier in the south pacific – the USS Enterprise CV-6.  She added her effective anti aircraft fire to save the Enterprise, shooting down 18 attacking aircraft.

The Juneau returned to Noumea, New Caledonia for replenishment and repairs.  It was then that John received a “Dear John” letter from Charlotte, she had married another man.  John was heartbroken, and on the verge of a devastating battle.

In November 12-15, John’s ship participated in the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal as part of Task Force 67.  The Japanese sent a large task force as an all out effort by the “Tokyo Express” to reinforce their forces on the island, and to destroy our naval forces in the area.  The enemy task force numbered 18 ships, including two battleships, far exceeding the power of the Juneau’s cruiser destroyer task. The American task force patrolled “Iron Bottom Sound” off Guadalcanal, and successfully fought off attacking enemy planes, the Juneau splashed 6.

Next came the onslaught of the heavy Japanese task force.  During this ferocious battle the American forces fought the enemy to a standstill, and both forces retired to lick their wounds.  During the melee the Juneau was hit by a torpedo on the port side which caused a severe list, and she was down by the bow 12 feet.  The ship retired on with only one propeller operation, at 13 knots.

At 11 a.m. on November 14 the Japanese submarine I-26 fired 3 torpedoes at John’s ship.  She successfully avoided two, the third one hit close to where the previous torpedo hit.  The ship broke in two and quickly sunk.  Of a crew of 820 men, only approximately 115 survived, including John.  The famous five Sullivan brothers,  as well as  heroes Elwood Bickert from Downingtown, and Malcom Main, from Malvern, went down with the ship.

John helped several of his crew members into life rafts. John, older than many of his fellow sailors, the optimist, the teacher, the concert violinist, did his best to cheer the crew, telling them “to never give up!” He paddled for 4 hours in the increasingly heavy seas.  When he finally allowed himself to be relieved, he continued paddling with his hands.

His raft was becoming overcrowded, and he decided to swim to another raft close by.  When he went into the water, a few feet from the raft a shark sprung from the depths and bit into his right shoulder.  John freed himself and swam back to his raft using his one good arm.  The crew members helped him into the raft, his arm hanging by a few threads of skin.  They could not stop the massive bleeding, and John saw the look of horror in their eyes. John new he could not survive, and would only be a burden to the fellow sailors.  He quietly slipped over the side into the sea. John was instantly attacked by two sharks, while the men watched in horror through the reddish spray. The concert violist would play no more.

Of the 115 men in the water, only 10 survived.

On January 14^th the family received a telegram from Rear Admiral Randall Jacobs Chief of Naval Personnel, that John was Missing In Action.  A second telegram, from Secretary of the Navy James Forrestal, received in July notified the family that because of the lapse in time, it was concluded John was Killed In Action.

John is remembered on the Tablets of the Missing at the Manila American Cemetery in the Philippines.

John was posthumously the Navy and Marine Corps Medal by James Forrestal for the President. The citation reads:

“For heroic conduct while attached to the USS Juneau following the sinking of that vessel by the enemy Japanese forces in the battle of Guadalcanal, November 13, 1942.  Cool and courageous in the face of extreme pearl, Grycky immediately went to the aid of several of his shipmates and assisted on the life rafts after abandoning the stricken ship and despite his own exhausted condition, insisted upon taking his turn at the oars of the heavily crowded raft as an attempt was made to clear the perilous area.  Fully aware that the lives of the survivors were in jeopardy from the heavy seas and the overcrowded condition of the life rafts, he unhesitatingly slipped into the water in order that his comrades would have a better chance to survive.   Grycky’s great personal valor, resolute courage and unselfish concern for the safety of other upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.  He gallantly gave his life for his shipmates”

Jim Latta, survivor of the “Knights of the Square Table”, honored their pact, attending to John’s family as well as the families of Heroes Vernon Rubincam and Herbert Hagamon.  Each Mothers Day he brought flowers to John’s mother, until he passed away a few years ago.

When planning for the High School Class of 1936’s 40^th reunion, the Class began an annual Scholarship, The Class of 1936 Memorial Scholarship to honor the 4 young men of that Class who died in World War II (heroes, John, Vernon, Herbert, and Harry Bernard). The scholarship is given to a graduating Coatesville High School Senior for Good Citizenship.

John’s bother, William served in the Army.

His niece Eileen Grycky continues John’s musical talent, albeit her chosen instrument the flute.  She is a widely recognized musician, a Professor of Music at the University of Delaware, and plays with the orchestra of the Opera Company of Philadelphia.  She had John’s violin refurbished for her 11 year old nephew (in 2004), Andrew Jacob Wagner, who is continuing John’s legacy playing his Grand Uncles instrument.

Additional Information:

• The Battle of Santa Cruz Islands
• WWII - Battle of Santa Cruz Islands