Mechanicsburg Area High School
Alumni Association
Hall of Fame
Following high school
graduation, John Ent
enlisted in the United
States Army Infantry and
was deployed to the Korean
War. He was wounded there
and received the Purple
Heart. In 1970 he was stationed
in Chu Lai, Vietnam and later stationed in
Stuttgart, Germany, working for the US Army
European Command. He retired from service as
Lt. Colonel and later in 1996 retired from the US
Postal Service.
About five years ago, John wondered if there
existed any kind of record of the names of fellow
Mechanicsburg Area High School graduates who
served in World War II. He decided to look into
it and after searching he learned that there it and after searching he learned that there
was no such record. For the next three years he
worked tirelessly researching, interviewing and
compiling information for the sole purpose of
creating a lasting record and acknowledgement
of the men and women who attended
Mechanicsburg High School and served in the
armed forces during WWII. The results of his
efforts, is the book he published himself called“Heroes Among Us”.
On June 6, 2004, John held an event at the
Simpson Public Library in which he invited all of
the people from the book to come and sign each
of five copies to be donated to the Cumberland
County Historical Society, the Mechanicsburg
Museum Association, the Mechanicsburg Area
School District, the Simpson Public Library and
the Army War College in Carlisle.
John’s hobbies include traveling with his
wife of 56 years, Mary Jane Rider Ent, ‘49,
reading, WWII history, woodworking and home
improvement projects. John has two daughters,
Deborah Ent Hoffman, ’67, and Melanie Ent
Fisher, ’78. He has four grandchildren and three
great-grandchildren.
John Ent’s book, “Heroes Among Us” is
evidence of his loyalty to our alumni with the
stories of the men and women who attended stories of the men and women who attended
Mechanicsburg High School and served our
country in WWII. Knowing the sacrifices these
men and women made, his book will live on for
generations and make us proud to be part of
Mechanicsburg High School’s history.
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