Posted by Roy E. Noble, Jr., Major, US Army/USAR, Retired on August 17, 2011:

I first met CPT John Fanning as an enlisted SP4 IFC radar operator in Ansonia, CT. I also knew his cousin Fr. Leo Fanning of St. Joe's Parish growing up in Paterson, NJ. I knew right from the beginning that they were related because of their distiguishing and nice looking facial features and expressions. CPT Fanning was a model that I wanted to follow so as soon as I was discharged from active duty, I completed school went to OCS and was commissioned. I had a successful career but my last 3 years I was assigned to the Military Academy and interviewing young hopeful candidates. I'm proud to say that a couple of the young men were accepted, graduated and were commissioned. I was also surprised to hear that John "Jack" was stationed in Thule as was I and just before I retired, I took a Patriot Missile course in Ft. Bliss, TX during his time there, now wishing that I could have known he was there. My regret is that I didn't try to "find" him on the internet until now and didn't realize how proud I was to know him. My wife, son, daughter-in-law and grandchildren are living here in Charleston and I will make an effort to include COL Fanning's influence he had on me to each of them including my daughter who lives in PA.

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