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John Jacob Lutz

John Jacob Lutz

October 1, 2026

headshot photo of John Jacob Lutz

Rank: 1st Lieutenant
Branch: Army
UT Major/Affiliation: Business Administration, 1938
Hometown: Loudon, TN

 

  • July 2, 1919 – April 2, 1945
  • Loudon, Tennessee
  • Business Adm. – 1938
  • Enlisted in April 1941
  • 1st Lt Army
  • Killed in combat when his armored car turned over into a steep ditch, Negros Island.  40th Cavalry Recon Troop (Mechanized)
    • Philippines
  • Stekee Cemetery in Loudon, Tennessee

John Jacob Lutz Jr. (July 2, 1919 – April 2, 1945) was born in Loudon, Tennessee. He attended the University of Tennessee for Business Administration in 1938. He entered service with the United States Army in April 1941 and was commissioned as a 1st Lieutenant. He served with the 40th Cavalry Reconnaissance Mechanized Troop operating in the Pacific Theater. 1st Lt. Lutz was leading a platoon in the troop during the Allied invasion of the Philippines in 1945. The 40th Cavalry Recon Troop was fighting on the Philippines’ Negros Island when he was killed in action on April 2, 1945. 1st Lt.  Lutz was leading an assault on Japanese positions in an armored car at the head of the troop. Under heavy enemy fire, the armored car hit a ditch and overturned. He was killed before his platoon was able to extract him from the crashed armored car. 1st Lt. John J. Lutz Jr. was awarded the Silver Star for his gallantry during the invasion of Negros Island. He is buried at Stekee Cemetery in Loudon, Tennessee.

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