![\"John-Sheppard-200x300\"](\"https:\/\/www.azuse.cloud\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/John-Sheppard-200x300.jpg\")
<\/a><\/center><\/p>\nBy: MMCM(SW) Terence B. Hoey, USN (Ret.)<\/p>\n
Born January 6, 1944 in New Orleans, LA, PH1(AC) John Sheppard, USN (Ret.) was adopted at birth. He lived in Washington, DC and Haiti, eventually settling in northern California. A motorcycle enthusiast in his youth, John was known to be quite the rebel. Tragedy struck his family and he ended up in El Paso and began his journey as a well-trained photographer\u2019s assistant. Encouraged by professional photographers and other key influences in his life, John joined the Navy, graduated first in his Photographers Mate Class \u201cA\u201d school and eventually received advanced photo-journalism training at Syracuse University and held some of this most prestigious Photographer\u2019s Mate billets in the Navy. With several tours in and during Viet Nam, John served with Naval Special Warfare, SEAL Team ONE along with a long and impressive career as a photo-journalist and combat cameraman. <\/p>\n
John\u2019s work before the Navy is impressive as his work while on active duty. He captured and recorded for history underground nuclear weapons testing, Nike missile launches and an ECHO ONE satellite pass across Texas that was published around the world. Again, all before he joined the Navy. After assignments at sea, as an air crewman and ashore in Viet Nam, the Philippines and Japan, John reported for duty at Atlantic Fleet Combat Camera GROUP in Norfolk, VA. He deployed to Europe, South America and Africa adding to his impressive resume of work. His work was widely popular in the official US Navy \u201cAll Hands\u201d and much of his work can be found in the National Archives and the Naval Historical Center in Washington, DC. After his retirement from the Navy, John settled in the San Diego area and had a successful career as a photographer and photojournalist holding positions in news and as a combat cameraman in the defense industry. John died Monday, November 21, 2016 painlessly and fearlessly surrounded by his family. He is survived by his lovely wife Rose, his only son John and a long list of close family and friends.<\/p>\n
This retired Master Chief Petty Officer met John a couple years back. I was to meet him in San Diego this past October, he was not well then, but my promise still stands with him, I said in our calls, \u201cI will protect your name and honor, whether you are here or gone, \u2018till the day that I die\u201d.<\/p>\n
Fair Winds and Following Seas \u2026 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"