John Firpo Skorich

Lilah Crowe2023-11-15T09:38:20-06:00

Name: John Firpo Skorich
Location of Birth: Taconite, Minnesota
Date of Birth: January 14, 1917
Date of Death: November 5, 1959 (43 years old)
Parents: Milan "Mike" Skorch and Boja (Koruga) Skorich
High School and Class: 1935 - Greenway High School - Coleraine, Minnesota
College: 1958 - University of Maryland (Bachelor of Science Degree)
Highest Rank: LT COL (Lieutenant Colonel)
Branch: Marine Corp
Other Branch:
Date Sworn In: 1935
Place Sworn In:
Date of Discharge: November 5, 1959
Place of Discharge:
Military Awards:
Distinguished Flying Cross
Air Medal
Bronze Stars
Silver Star Medals

Military Highlights:
Newspaper article: 1944 - "Lt. John Skorich, son of Mike Skorich, is spending a 15-day furlough with relatives. He was stationed somewhere in the Pacific."

Newspaper article: May 1945 - "AREA MEN DECORATED ON FRANKLIN'S DECK
Two area men were decorated for gallantry in action on the torn and charred flight deck of the USS Franklin at Brooklyn Navy yard. The carrier, saved by a long fight against fire and explosions after being bombed by a lucky, lone Japanese pilot only 63 miles from Japan itself, was brought by its crew 12,000 miles to Brooklyn for repair. Of the crew, 97 members were decorated yesterday. The two men are First Lt. John Skorich, Marble, and Edward Holdstrom MM 2/c, Biwabik. Both received Bronze Stars. Twelve Navy Crosses, 16 Silver Stars and 67 other Bronze Stars were presented the officers and men who battled fire and explosion to keep the ship afloat, the Associated Press reported. Vice Adm. Audrey W. Fitch, USN, said in presenting the awards: “Only by the outstanding skill, stamina and heroism of the officers and the crew could the Franklin, against what seemed like insuperable odds, have traveled the 12,000 miles from the scene of the disaster to her berth here in the Brooklyn Navy yard.”

Newspaper article - October 1945 - "TORPEDO SURVIVOR IS STILL ‘MISSING’
The whereabouts of 24-year-old Sgt. John F. Skorich, Marble, Minn., one of eight United States Marines rescued after the torpedoing of a Dutch vessel in British wartime service, was unknown last night. Neither the Navy nor the State Departments disclosed details of the ship’s sinking or its identity. The initial disclosure said the ship was the Maarsden bearing a detachment of Marines and Red Cross nurses to England. Sergeant Skorich is the son of Michael Skorich, Marble. The family moved to Marble in 1920. The youth graduated from Greenway High School in 1935. He worked during the summer of 1935 for the Interstate Iron Mining Co. at Calumet and in December of that year joined the Marines. Skorich trained at Parris Island, S.C. for about six months and later was stationed at Quantico, Va."

During World War II, John served in the Marine Corps Ground Forces and became a pilot following the war. He was a jet pilot during the Korean Conflict.

Lieutenant Colonel John Skorich, attached to the Naval Forces Continental Air Command in Colorado Springs, Colorado, was killed November 5, 1959, in a jet airplane crash at McChord Air Force Base in Tacoma, Washington. The much decorated air veteran of Korea was flying a Navy jet trainer with Lieutenant Colonel Kollman of New Matamoras, Ohio, who was also killed. He had left Peterson Field at Colorado Springs Thursday morning to pick up Kollman. Both men were attached to the Naval Forces Continental Air Command whose headquarters are at Colorado Springs.

Wars Involved:
World War II
Korean Conflict

MIA / POW:

Civilian Life:
John moved to Marble, Minnesota with his family when he was five years old.

John was an outstanding football player.

John received his Bachelor of Science degree following a long session of night school courses.

Survivors include his wife, Patricia Ann (McLean) Skorich; a son, John; three brothers, Joe, George, and Rody; two sisters, Mrs. August (Angeline) Wohlsdorf and Mrs. William (Marie) Carmichael.

Buried in Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego, California. (Section V, Site 16)

Tribal Affiliation(s):