John Walter Linaburg

Linaburg, John Walter
76, of Mesa AZ, passed away peacefully on March 9, 2011 after complications from heart disease at Banner Baywood Hospital. He was born February 8, 1935 in Toledo, Ohio to Gould and Gretchen Linaburg. John grew up in Monongahela, PA in a home built by his parents. As an active student in Monongahela High School he contributed time to the American Red Cross. After his junior year he traveled the famous Route 66 to complete his senior year at Downey High School in California. Upon graduation he enlisted in the United States Air Force and while stationed in Japan he met Ichiko his first wife. John served 20 yrs in the U.S. Air Force as a radio technician. He served TDY (temporary duty) in the Vietnam War as a member of the famous 553rd Electronic Maintenance Squadron (EMS) also known as Batcats. The Batcats services were always classified. Their mission on the ground and air was to achieve a primary objective - to keep the number of names on what would be the Vietnam Memorial as few as possible. While air crews flew combat missions every day, the 553rd EMS did not usually encounter the Viet Cong enemy directly. However, while on TDY in South Vietnam, TSgt. John Linaburg 553rd EMS, was wounded in combat and was the first member of the Batcats known to receive the Purple Heart. Read about TSgt. John Linaburg and his comrades' experiences at Nui Ba Den mountain in a book titled, "Batcats - the USAF 553rd Reconnaissance Wing in Southeast Asia". John recovered from his wounds and in 1974 retired at Norton AFB San Bernardino, California. Years after military service he met and married Deanna Jeisy-Reldon making their homestead in Rialto, California. Throughout the duration of John's life he provided for his growing household and helped his many friends in their times of need. John will be sadly missed for he was a great influence in many lives. John's hobbies were racing off-road motorcycles, lapidary, working on cars, and fishing. Survivors include his brother, Dr. Ronald Linaburg of Pittsburgh, PA; his sons Dale of Gilbert, AZ; Randy Reldon of Las Vegas, NV; daughters, Jean of Riverside, CA; Janet of Sarasota, FL; Kandy Reldon-Elliott of Bagdad, AZ; eight grandchildren; and thirteen great grandchildren. A graveside military service will be held on Saturday 10am, the 4th of June 2011 at Mountain View Cemetery in Kingman, Arizona where his ashes will be interred with his wife Deanna Reldon-Linaburg, who preceded him in death in 2000. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his name to the American Red Cross chapter or the Disabled American Veterans chapter nearest to you. We invite you to visit www.sonoranskiesmortuaryaz.com to sign our online guest book for special memories and private condolences.