Politics & Government

Memorial Day Remembrance: U.S. Army CWO John W. Engeman

Who was the man behind the marquee?

His name on the that bears his name on Main Street in Northport, but we still may not know the answer to this question: Who was John William Engeman?

John was born to Elizabeth and Joseph Engeman on July 8, 1960. He grew up with his one brother and five sisters in East Northport. One of those sisters is Patti O'Neill, wife of theater owner Kevin O'Neill. When John was killed in 2006, the O'Neills had just purchased the theater and immediately made the decision to name the theater after Patti's brother. That is a replica of his signature on the theater sign.

In August of 1978 John entered the U.S. Army as an enlisted mechanic. He was selected as a warrant officer (ordinance/maintenance) in 1988. He was promoted to chief warrant officer four on March 1, 2002.

John met and married his wife, Donna, while the two were stationed in Würzburg, Germany. They have a son and daughter-in-law, First Lt. Patrick and Mary Kirk Engeman and a daughter, Nicole Engeman.

John served on active duty for over 28 years. He deployed in support of Operation Desert Storm, Hurricane Andrew relief, Kosovo/Bosnia Peacekeeping, an assignment to Nigeria, and to Operation Iraqi Freedom. 

He served multiple tours in Germany and Korea, and at Fort Knox, Fort Drum and most recently, West Virginia. At the time of his death, John was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 312th Training Support Battalion, 4th Brigade, 78th Division, based at Fort Bragg, and was serving on the Military Transition Team assisting the Iraqi people in establishing their own security forces. 

The Iraqis have honored John by placing his biography and picture in the Iraqi Hall of Martyrs. The Hall of Martyrs honors all of the Iraqis who have died fighting for a free and democratic Iraq.

Among his many awards are the Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Medal, Southwest Asia Service Medal, Kosovo Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, NCO Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, NATO Medal, Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia), Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait), Bronze Star Medal, Legion of Merit Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, War on Terrorism Medal.  He has been awarded the Purple Heart due to his death as a result of hostile enemy action in Iraq.

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John enjoyed the theater, both onstage and backstage. While stationed in Europe he participated in the Army’s community theater, playing the traveling salesman in “Music Man," one of the bottle dancers in “Fiddler on the Roof” and he won an Army theater award for his role in a one-act play called “The Whole Shebang."

Northport Patch thanks John for his service and for making the ultimate sacrifice.

Copy taken from the John W. Engeman Theater at Northport web site.

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