Uncles, John Francis, born 18-09-1898 in Chillicothe, Missouri. 
His family moved to Kansas City when he was six, and he was educated at St. Vincent’s parochial school and De La Salle Academy, graduating with special honors in 1916 and receiving the Bishop’s medal for finishing with first honors in the literary-scientific course After graduation he joined the Missouri National Guard, enlisting a few days following the declaration of war for World War I. Uncles was assigned to the unit which was federalized as Battery D, 129th Field Artillery 
, and he served in France under battery commander Harry Ship Truman. Chosen by Truman when unit commanders were asked after the armistice to help replenish the Army’s supply of junior officer by nominating candidates from the enlisted ranks, in 1918 Uncles began attendance at the United States Military Academy 
. He graduated in 1922 with a commission as a second lieutenant of Artillery. Uncles served in Artillery assignments of increasing responsibility and rank throughout the United States and overseas. In 1942 Uncles was assigned as assistant personnel officer, G-1, at Headquarters, Army Ground Forces, where he remained until 1943. Uncles was assigned to the staff of the Field Artillery School at Fort Sill in 1943, and later that year attended the New Division Officers Course, also at Fort Sill. At the end of 1943 Uncles was assigned as commander of the 404th Field Artillery Group, serving until 1944, when he assumed command of the 34th Field Artillery Brigade, which he led in combat throughout France, Belgium and Holland (see About) until the end of World War II. In 1945 Uncles was appointed to command the 32nd Field Artillery Brigade, nickname “King of Battle” 
in Germany, serving until 1946. On 08-11-1942, the Proud Americans claimed the first artillery round fired by US artillery against enemies in Europe and North Africa. Later, the battalion would see action at Kasserine and El Guettar. In 1944, the 32nd Field Artillery was the first complete artillery unit in action on Omaha Beach and is credited with the first Allied field artillery round fired during the invasion. Advancing across Europe, the battalion continued its trend of firsts by being credited with the first rounds fired onto German soil He served as Chief of Field Artillery in the Army’s Career Management Branch from 1946 to 1948. In 1956 Uncles was assigned as commander of the VII Corps, serving until his 1958 retirement.
His family moved to Kansas City when he was six, and he was educated at St. Vincent’s parochial school and De La Salle Academy, graduating with special honors in 1916 and receiving the Bishop’s medal for finishing with first honors in the literary-scientific course After graduation he joined the Missouri National Guard, enlisting a few days following the declaration of war for World War I. Uncles was assigned to the unit which was federalized as Battery D, 129th Field Artillery , and he served in France under battery commander Harry Ship Truman. Chosen by Truman when unit commanders were asked after the armistice to help replenish the Army’s supply of junior officer by nominating candidates from the enlisted ranks, in 1918 Uncles began attendance at the United States Military Academy . He graduated in 1922 with a commission as a second lieutenant of Artillery. Uncles served in Artillery assignments of increasing responsibility and rank throughout the United States and overseas. In 1942 Uncles was assigned as assistant personnel officer, G-1, at Headquarters, Army Ground Forces, where he remained until 1943. Uncles was assigned to the staff of the Field Artillery School at Fort Sill in 1943, and later that year attended the New Division Officers Course, also at Fort Sill. At the end of 1943 Uncles was assigned as commander of the 404th Field Artillery Group, serving until 1944, when he assumed command of the 34th Field Artillery Brigade, which he led in combat throughout France, Belgium and Holland (see About) until the end of World War II. In 1945 Uncles was appointed to command the 32nd Field Artillery Brigade, nickname “King of Battle” in Germany, serving until 1946. On 08-11-1942, the Proud Americans claimed the first artillery round fired by US artillery against enemies in Europe and North Africa. Later, the battalion would see action at Kasserine and El Guettar. In 1944, the 32nd Field Artillery was the first complete artillery unit in action on Omaha Beach and is credited with the first Allied field artillery round fired during the invasion. Advancing across Europe, the battalion continued its trend of firsts by being credited with the first rounds fired onto German soil He served as Chief of Field Artillery in the Army’s Career Management Branch from 1946 to 1948. In 1956 Uncles was assigned as commander of the VII Corps, serving until his 1958 retirement.Death and burial ground of Uncles, John Francis.
John Uncles died at Walter Reed Army Hospital in Washington, D.C. on 20-01-1967, age 68 and is buried with his wife Elisabeth, born Banks, who died age 97, in 1999, at Arlington National Cemetery, Section 3.
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