By Nancy Slaff
For The Alpine Sun

     While grabbing a 50 caliber machine gun, shooting at intruding Japanese fighter planes, and sustaining numerous injuries in the process, John Finn had no idea he would live or die - certainly not live to the age of 100! The only thing he knew at the time was…he “was mad as hell”!
     He did not stop to think of personal glory or that in time thousands of perfect strangers, near and far, would extend to him respect and gratitude and stand in long lines just to shake his hand or listen to him talk their ear off. He didn't think what would happen to the future - just the now.
     The burial of Lt. John Finn at the Campo Indian cemetery on June 3rd, speaks volumes. Once again alongside his wife, Alice, who preceded him in death, the facts surrounding that burial on Indian land remain a mystery to most.
     In this most obscure burial place, the Congressional Medal of Honor recipient was given a glorious send off by our military, including a twenty-one gun salute and a fly-over by Navy F-18's. Former Congressman Duncan Hunter offered the story of John's heroic actions. Hundreds of military men and women stood alongside to honor his service. The American flag and John's Congressional Medal of Honor flag was given to his surviving son who was accompanied by John's many descendants. But what happened next revealed a real story that perhaps measures another honor due this man.
     Following World War II, John and Alice eventually moved to the mountainous area surrounding Campo and Boulevard. Their ranch house happened to border Indian land inhabited by the Kumeyaay. According to several tribal members, poverty racked the lives of those people in the 1950's and 60's, and Indian youth often had no place to live. Some wandered in poverty, while others fought the ravages of drugs and alcohol. John and Alice took them in.
John opened his heart and his home, and made a dwelling for those who had nothing; a large barracks-type building complete with beds, and provided clothing and shoes to those in need. He became a beloved “Santa Claus” to the children. When Alice passed away, this special love prompted the tribal members to open their sacred cemetery to her.
     Tribal members celebrated his life and offering up his spirit, said they welcomed him with honor. Some of those now elderly tribal members could have been the very youth that John helped during those hard times.
This obscure grave is where John requested to be laid to rest. A National Hero and a true humanitarian. A long way from the Island of Oahu and a war and machine guns and Japanese fighter planes, left to rest alongside the people who mean so much to him.