This site is dedicated to the memory of John William Adams (1925-2006), Oath Keeper extraordinaire.
Corporal John W. Adams. Marine Veteran, Pacific Campaign, WWII. Just a country boy from Arkansas who answered the call, took that oath, and then took it to the Japanese Imperial Army.
After the Imperial Japanese Navy attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, John Adams, then age 16, lied about his age to join the Marines so he could fight those who had dared attack his country. His enlistment date was December 10, 1941, just three days after the attack on Pearl Harbor (see discharge record below). As a Marine rifleman, he fought the Japanese from island to island, across the pacific, including at Iwo Jima. We may have good men, but we never had better.
Click to enlarge
Date of enlistment: December 10, 1941.
Now that’s what you call stepping up – but he was not alone. And neither are you.
I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me. Isaiah 6:8
John Adams was my father-in-law. Once my young son, always full of questions, asked his Grandpa John “how many Japanese soldiers did you see go still in your [rifle] sights, Grandpa?” (yes, my son talks like that) Grandpa John, who usually was not at a loss for words, and never passed up an invitation to launch into a good story, just looked away for a moment, in a thousand yard stare, and then looking down at his grandson simply said “too many.” Like many WWII combat vets, he did not talk much about his service, and so, regretfully, though I knew he had served in the Pacific, I did not learn the story of his enlistment at such a young age, and how he had fought at Iwo Jima, until his funeral.
Until his death in 2006, he was a Marine and a dedicated patriot who still took his oath to defend the Constitution and the Republic it established, deadly serious. He kept his oath, and then some.
May God grant us all the courage to do likewise. Semper Fi, Marine.
Stewart Rhodes
Founder of Oath Keepers
In memory of that sixteen-year-old boy who went to war so long ago and saw things no sixteen year old should ever have to see, and in the hope that his service – and the sacrifices of his brothers who did not come home – was not in vain, we dedicate this website, and this song:
THE MINSTREL BOY
by Thomas Moore
The Minstrel Boy to the war is gone
In the ranks of death you will find him;
His father’s sword he hath girded on,
And his wild harp slung behind him;”
Land of Song!” said the warrior bard,
“Tho’ all the world betrays thee,
One sword, at least, thy rights shall guard,
One faithful harp shall praise thee!”
The Minstrel fell! But the foeman’s chain
Could not bring that proud soul under;
The harp he lov’d ne’er spoke again,
For he tore its chords asunder;
And said “No chains shall sully thee,
Thou soul of love and brav’ry!
Thy songs were made for the pure and free,
They shall never sound in slavery!”
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August 31st, 2011 at 7:09 pm
Thank you for that story of a young boy, i pray that we become a nation of morale, ethical, and courageous men and women once again.
October 22nd, 2011 at 1:42 am
I was in the Marines myself, I joined to protect my country not the person that runs it. I was ready to die for my country. Semper Fidelis! So where are you from? The reason I am asking is because my grandpa is an Adams also.
November 15th, 2011 at 7:58 am
My father, also took the oath at the age of 16 – with his mother obviously lying about his age to help him enlist – they put his age at the time at 17. He served in the same places as your father and was always a true patriot of the United States and an Oathkeeper extraordinaire until his death on 1/31/05. God bless all those who served and are serving our great nation.
Time to defend what our forefathers intended this nation to be.
December 9th, 2011 at 1:53 am
Our first position of defending the Republic is to know who our enemy is and he probably is not the one our politicians say he is because the enemy seeks first to check-mate our Government. After the check-mate our enemy sends out we the troops to fight his enemies which ultimately is our republic and ourselves.
December 9th, 2011 at 7:57 pm
this is a great dedication to john adams and well deserved. may there be many more like him they will be needed. not to ruffle any feathers but when i looked at john adams marine corp picture that is posted here, well i thought i was looking at my marine corp picture from boot camp. even my girl friend thought it was me for a minute. i just had to say something about our resemblance. Here’s to you John William Adams from one jarhead to another Semper Fi.
December 20th, 2011 at 5:37 pm
the stark contrast between the constitution vs the titanic has symbolized the awakening of the citizens,like gulliver the lilliputions cannot keep a good giant down, i swear by god……….
June 16th, 2012 at 8:23 pm
To John William Adams may you rest in peace and thank you on behalf of myself and the millions of Americans who benefited from your dedication and service to our nation. God bless you and Rest in Peace
January 2nd, 2013 at 7:05 pm
It is time to stand again.
February 24th, 2013 at 9:48 am
I ENLISTED IN THE CORPS 35 YEARS AGO. I CAN GUARANTEE THAT JOHN ADAMS IN NOT “RESTING” IN PEACE. HE IS GUARDING THE STREETS OF HEAVEN. THERE IS NEVER RESTO FOR ANY US MARINE. IF NOT SORTING OUT ALL THE BAD GUYS ON EARTH AND SENDING THEM TO HELL, THEY ARE MAKING SURE THAT ALL ARE SQUARED AWAY IN HEAVEN. SEMPER FI