- Date Of Birth: December 24, 1956
- Date Of Death: June 24, 2020
- State: New Jersey
John Anthony Nahra, MNCS, USN (Retired), a South Jersey native, passed away peacefully at home with his sister by his side on June 24, after a courageous battle with cancer.
Born on Christmas Eve, 1956, John lived a thousand lives in one. He was a Father. He was a Role model. He was a Sailor. He was a Man. These are the words of his Sons. His former shipmates from across the globe speak of his leadership, his intelligence, and his bold presence. If you walked into a room and John was there, you knew you were going to be both highly entertained and intellectually challenged. You also knew you were safe. His love of his Family was paramount. He was simply devoted to his sons and sisters. His second great love was the US Navy, particularly the Mine Force. “Anytime. Anywhere” is the mine force creed and John would show up anytime anywhere to support a Sailor in need. His third great love was football; he was the most loyal and most loud Philadelphia Eagles fan, no matter his geographical location.
Following graduation from Collingswood High School in 1974, John enlisted in the US Navy. He started his Naval career at Recruit Training Center, IL and Fleet & Mine Warfare Training Center, Charleston, SC. He served at various Mobile Mine Assembly Group (MOMAG) units, to include detachments in Souda Bay, Crete, Machrihanish, Scotland, Glen Douglas, Scotland, Long Beach, CA, Charleston, SC, and Corpus Christi, TX. Special duty assignments included Recruit Training Center, San Diego, whereas a Company Commander, he molded young civilian men into capable and disciplined sailors. He was a Naval Security Guard in Naples, Italy. John’s performance as a US Naval envoy to the US Military Training Mission to Saudi Arabia, Jubal, SA was truly legendary. MNCS Nahra was instrumental in the establishment and operation of MOMAG Det Zayed, Abu Dhabi, UAE, earning the Kuwait Liberation Medal and SW Asian Service medal. Other notable awards included: US Naval & Marine Corps Commendation medals, Naval Achievement medals, Good Conduct Awards, National Defense Service ribbons, Humanitarian Services Medal, etc.
John served his Country, his Navy, and his Family every day of his life. He “won” the Cold War and the Gulf War. Mostly, he won the love and respect of his family, shipmates, and friends. MNCS Nahra retired in 1999 with over 23 years of honorable service and thoroughly enjoyed his retirement years. John did not join the Navy to see the world; he joined the Navy so the world could see him. And the world did see this proud Camden boy lovingly known as Dad, Pops, Papa J, Jackie, Grandpa, SR, Senior Chief, Nahra, and sometimes simply John. No matter the salutation, he was known, and he will forever be remembered.
John is preceded in death by his son, Matthew Vincent Nahra and is survived by his sons, John Alexander Nahra and Dylan Francis Nahra, and their mother, Kathleen Engle. John is also survived by John Alexander’s wife, Rachel, and his grandson, Maxwell. He is also survived by his three sisters, Julie Nahra, Mary Nahra, Dorothy Brown and her husband Kevin Brown, his nephew, Kirk Pawlak, niece, Amy Barto, and great niece, Lily Barto.
MNCS John Anthony Nahra will be laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery, at a date to be determined.
