John Giesey
Oiler

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John Henry Giesey, a merchant seaman in World War II, a decorated infantryman in the Korean War, and a skilled oiler on the S.S. JOHN W. BROWN, died suddenly on April 22, 2005 at his home. He was 77.

John was born in October 1927, grew up in Baltimore and graduated from City College. He joined the merchant marine in World War II and sailed the Atlantic and the Caribbean as a fireman-watertender on Liberty ships JOHN HOLT, R.J. REYNOLDS, HELEN HUNT JACKSON, HENRY GLUCKSMAN and MELVILLE JACOBY, as well as on the tugboat PATAPSCO.

He also served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War as a combat infantryman with the Seventh Infantry. He received the Combat Infantry Badge, Korean Service Medal with four bronze stars, United Nations Service Medal, Presidential Unit Citation and the National Defense Medal. He completed his military service at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, where he was assigned to a newly formed atomic cannon unit.

In civilian live, Giesey worked for the Pennsylvania Railroad, the Baltimore Gas & Electric Company, and the Postal Service.

He is survived by a son, a daughter, three grandchildren and a brother.