John Wayne Hardin

John Wayne Hardin was born on October 7, 1947 in Ipswich, Massachusetts to Harold Wayne Hardin and Dorothy Ruth Dow. He graduated from high school in Childress, Texas in 1966, and enlisted in the United States Navy in September of 1966. On March 30, 1968 he married Linda Irene Bender, and together they had three children, Joanna, Lisa, and Susan. After retirement from the United States Navy in 1997, he resided and spent his final years in Torrance, California.

John reported to Field Medical School at Camp Pendleton, California in June 1967. After training and graduating as a Hospital Corpsman, he arrived in Vietnam in April 1968. John served with Hotel Co., 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marines in Vietnam for one year, later being awarded a Purple Heart for injuries sustained during combat. Over his 31 years of service, John only spent 3 days on ship while training on board the helicopter carrier Belleau Wood. Master Chief John W. Hardin had the honor and distinction of being the Guest of Honor at the Marine Corps Sunset Parade, where he was greeted by his colleagues at the Marine Corps War Memorial. In total, John spent 29 years serving with the Marines, retiring from Headquarters Battalion at Camp Pendleton, California on November 1, 1987.

John is survived by his wife of 56 years, Linda; children Lisa and Susan (Johnson); grandchildren Serena, Arielle, and Immanuel, brother Raymond and nieces and nephews, Michelle, Roxanne, JimWayne, Ray, Amanda, Dana and Heather.

A graveside service will be held at Miramar National Cemetery at 2:15pm on Tuesday, April 16, 2024. A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, April 20, 2024 at 1pm at the Carson VFW Post 10166. A private memorial service will be held in Texas at a later date. Please contact the family for more information.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to his daughter's nonprofit, The Alabaster Jar Project or the Carson VFW Post 10166.