John James Culbertson, IV

John J. Culbertson IV, 78, decorated veteran, national author and loving husband and father, died peacefully at Mercy Hospital surrounded by his family on March 6, 2025. Born in Oklahoma City on May 27, 1946, to Dorothy Pruit and John J. Culbertson III, John attended Nichols Hills Elementary School, Culver Military Academy, and graduated high school from Pembroke Country Day in Kansas City.

John joined the Marine Corp in 1966 and served with the 2/5, 1st Marine Division, at An Hoa, Republic of Vietnam. He completed 1st MarDiv Sniper School in Da Nang, receiving a secondary MOS. He was wounded several times in action, earning three Purple Hearts.

He was also awarded the Combat Action Ribbon, Presidential Unit Citation, Navy Unit Commendation, Meritorious Unit Commendation, Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm, Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, and multiple expert rifleman badge awards. Mr. Culbertson received an honorable discharge from the U. S. Marine Corps in 1971 at the rank of sergeant. He was inducted into the Oklahoma Military Hall of Honor in 2024.

After completing his military service, John attended the University of Northern Arizona, earning his BA (Business) in 1973. John successfully opened and managed several restaurants in Oklahoma City. He loved interacting with the public and staff. He also enjoyed operating a Taekwondo dojang and youth program he developed for inner city kids.

John is probably best known on a national basis for his writing on the Viet Nam War. He penned several books for Random House, his most successful being Operation Tuscaloosa, which has sold several hundred thousand books to date. At the peak of John's career, his paperbacks could be found at any major airport bookstore. He also wrote and published incredibly evocative poetry.

John was preceded in death by his daughter, Ashley Culbertson and his sister, Helen Peck. He is survived by his beloved wife, Diane; Nephews, John Ditmars (Demi), James "Coondog" Satterfield (Gloria); Niece, Lee Hamre (Austin); Grand Nephew, Daniel Satterfield; Grand Niece, Elsie Manning (Heyward); Brothers-in-law, Jim Ditmars (Cathy), Rick Ditmars (Barbara), Step-brothers, Mark Brewer (Linda), Paul Brewer; Cousins, Bliss Morris (John) and many other loving cousins.

To those of us he helped raise and mentor, he was our Davey Crockett, Alvin York and Clint Eastwood rolled into one inimitable and larger than life figure never to be forgotten.