John J. Toth was born on December 19, 1913 to John and Elizabeth who lived in Swedeland (near Norristown) Pennsylvania. His family moved to 239 East Valley road in Coatesville when he was young, then later moved to 159 Strode Avenue.  His father was a steel worker.  John was one of 7 children: John, Michael, Andrew, George, Mary, Stephen, and Frank.

 John attended Coatesville schools and  later obtained employment at the silk mill, and later at Lukens Steel as a grinder.  Two of his younger brothers worked their also:  Michael worked at the open hearth and George worked at the Electric shop.  The family attended St. Joseph’s Church in West Coatesville on Charles St.  His brother Frank remembers John gave him a quarter to go to the afternoon movie nearly every Saturday.

 Both John and his brother Michael joined the Army on March 2, 1942.  They were trained for 3 months at Camp Wheeler, Georgia, before being shipped overseas to the Hawaiian Islands.

John was assigned to Company F of the 35^th Regiment, 25th “Tropic Lightning” Infantry Division, the same unit in which heroes Frank Pinter and Joseph Mraz served.  The division then underwent intensive Jungle Warfare training in the Hawaiian Islands. His division was then sent to Guadalcanal to reinforce the 1^st Marine Division as part of the XIV Corps.  The unit began combat on January 7^th, 1943.

About that time, John wrote his last letter home:

January 6, 1943

 I have received all of your letters and was glad to hear from you.  I have been out of the hospital over a month now and am feeling fine, so there is nothing to worry about and I am gland to hear everything is fine at home.   I got my picture from The Record, too.   I saw Mike a couple times and he is looking fine.   He told me that Andy was joining the Navy.   I also like that birthday card and Xmas card.   I had a very nice Xmas and a happy New Year’s Day.  I hope you all had the same.  

 Best wishes and good luck.

 John

Private John J. Toth was killed in enemy action on January 11, 1943. He was buried in a military cemetery on Guadalcanal.  Michael wrote of the news to his sister Mary dated February 3^rd.  The family received the telegram from the Government that John was Killed In Action on February 24^th. John was awarded the Purple Heart posthumously.

Col. Robert McClure, the Commander of the 35^th wrote a letter, which the family received in April. In it he says: 

“Your son was killed in brave performance of duty against the enemy.  I assure you that you can be proud in the knowledge that his actions were willing, loyal and courageous in making the noblest sacrifice a man can give – his life for his country.  Only in a small way can this letter ease your sorrow.  You can be certain, however, that your grief is shared by those of us who lived and worked and fought with your son as fellow soldiers.  This pledge we make to you – we shall do our best to make certain that his sacrifice was not in vain.”

In the continually raging battles, they did not have the luxury creating a military cemetery, so fallen soldiers were buried in secure areas in hastily marked graves.  John’s brother Michael found John's grave as well as that of hero Harvard Fox while serving on Guadalcanal in July 1943.

John’s remains were returned for burial in his home country arriving by government hearse from Philadelphia on March 8, 1948.  The funeral service was held at the Archie S. Maclean’s Funeral home with Solemn High Requiem Mass at St. Joseph’s Church in Coatesville.  Some 40 members of military organization participated, many standing guard during the services. Full military honors were rendered by the Sahler-Sedan Post VFW, internment was at St. Cecilia’s Cemetery.

The city of Coatesville named a street after John: Toth Ave. in the Brandywine Homes development, paralleling Fox Ave. and Johnson St. (also named after heroes), near the Coatesville Cash High School.

All of John’s brothers – Mike, Andy, George, Steve and Frank served during the war.