John Lund
U.S. Army
2019
Stamford COTY is pleased to honor John Lund as a distinguished veteran.
John was born in Brooklyn, New York, but his family moved to Stamford in 1947 when he was just three months old. He spent his early childhood living in downtown Stamford and attended Elm Street and Rogers Schools, before his family moved to Glenbrook in 1960. He then attended Burdick Junior High and Stamford High, where he graduated in 1965. Always an athlete, John played Little League and Babe Ruth Baseball, Pop Warner Football, Youth Basketball and the Shoreline Softball League. At SHS, he also lettered in varsity soccer.
After the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution expanded U.S. involvement in Vietnam, and knowing he would likely be sent in harm’s way, John joined the United States Marine Corps in August, 1966. After boot camp in Parris Island S.C., combat training in Camp Lejeune, N.C., and assignment to Camp Pendleton near San Diego, he was deployed to Vietnam, where he served nineteen months in-country. There, John was assigned to Mike Company, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, and spent the first 2 months at a Landing Zone 8 miles South West of Da Nang. During the 1968 Tet Offensive he was moved to Phu Bai for 5 months, and then was assigned to An Hoi for 12 months. During his deployment John was a Casualty Reporter, informing the Company Commander of those Killed or Wounded in Action, and had the painful task of preparing personal effects for shipment. While he was with Mike Company 3/5, they were awarded two Presidential Unit Citations. John individually earned a Meritorious Mast, a Combat Promotion to Sergeant, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, RVN Cross of Gallantry, a Vietnam Service Medal with 1 Star, Combat Action Ribbon and a Navy Achievement Medal with Combat “V”.
Returning home to Stamford, John went to Norwalk Community College for two years, and then transferred to Southern Connecticut State College. He worked at the United States Post Office for 28 years, retiring in 2011, and the Wee Burn Country Club for 48 years, retiring in 2018. He has been married to the love of his life Elaine (Dwyer) for almost 49 years and still lives in Glenbrook. They have two sons--Jeffrey, a Stamford Police Officer and Jonathan, a Stamford Fireman. Jonathan and his wife Natasha have blessed John and Elaine with two granddaughters, five year old Luna and three year old Aila.
Stamford COTY knows we are fortunate to have people like John among us.