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<em>John Raikes Vance</em>, the son of Samuel Elisha and Mollie (Martin) Vance, was born in Boise, Idaho 21 December 1897, where he was raised attending local schools.</p>
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Entering West Point in June 1917— they were to be the Class of 1921—he graduated on 1 November 1918 due to World War I and commissioned in the Infantry. He was fond of saying that the war ended eleven days later because “the Kaiser heard they were coming.” His class returned and remained until June 1919 when they were again graduated. While his time there was short, the friendships he formed were long lasting. The Army, to him, was, and would always be, West Point.</p>
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After his second graduation, his class was taken on a tour of the war’s battlefields. And then it was on to the Infantry School where he graduated in 1920 and his first assignment with the 6th Infantry at Camp Grant, Illinois. He went to the Historical Section of the Army War College where he served from 1923-26. From there it was to the Philippines for three years with the 15th Infantry. On return to the United States, he was posted with the 4th Infantry at Fort Missoula, Montana where he remained from January to September 1929 when he was ordered to Washington to work with General Pershing and the American Battle Monuments Commission. In 1931 he was ordered to Paris to continue with the work. The result was not only the series of cemeteries to our war dead, and monuments to commemorate our participation, but a volume published in 1937 <em>American Armies and Battle Fields in Europe</em>. Completion of this tour of duty saw him return to troop duty with the 9th Infantry at Fort Sam Houston for a brief period until the opportunity arose to attend the Finance School. Upon completion in December 1939, he departed for duty in the Philippines with his wife, Elizabeth (Simmons) of Hagerstown, Maryland, whom he had just married.</p>
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In March 1941 with war looming, his wife, with the other military dependents, was evacuated. They would not see each other for over four years. Having by then been promoted to full colonel, he was captured at the fall of Corregidor. He remained a prisoner until the end of war when his prison camp at Muckden, Manchuria was liberated by elements of the Russian Army and a team from the OSS. He would never forget his captivity, nor would he ever forget that no matter how bad it was and no matter how he suffered, he still was one of the lucky ones as he survived. Many of his classmates did not.</p>
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Return to the United States in September 1945 was facilitated by his classmate Lieutenant General Albert M. Wedemeyer. General Wedemeyer, the commander of American forces in China, had Colonel Vance accompany him on his return. Throwing custom aside which would have had General Wedemeyer first off the plane, he pushed Colonel Vance through the airplane’s door into the arms of his wife Elizabeth and the clutches of their classmates much to the consternation and confusion of the gathered dignitaries. Such was the bond of friendship which West Point had forged.</p>
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After assignments at Fort Sam Houston and with the Second Army at Fort Meade, Maryland, Colonel Vance was selected by his classmate Major General Edward Sebree to be his Chief of Staff for the Army contingent in Trieste, Italy. Upon the completion of this assignment, and after a short tour in Washington, Colonel Vance retired in August 1954.</p>
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Colonel Vance moved to Corte Madera, California where he became involved in many community activities, and served as the first full-time treasurer of the town. He was active in the Rialto Post of the American Legion in San Francisco, serving as its commander and, for many years, as its adjutant. His final years saw him enjoy good health. He especially enjoyed following the career of his son, an attorney, and the activities of his granddaughter and grandson who was born in July 1988.</p>
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In the words of the West Point “Alma Mater,” when his work was done, and his course on earth was run, he could say “Well done” for he was at peace.</p>
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He is survived by his wife Elizabeth, of Corte Madera, California; a son John R., Jr. of San Rafael, California; and, two grandchildren, Caroline Burrows, and Creighton Nelson.</p>
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