A veteran of WWII and Korea, he was a member of the Frozen Chosen, and the First Division U.S.M.C. Some of the medals he received were the Presidential Unit Citation with one oak leaf cluster, Good Conduct Medal, American Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with five oak leaf clusters, World War II Victory Medal, National Defense Service Medal; Korean Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters; United Nations Service Medal; Philippine Liberation Ribbon with two oak leaf clusters and the Korean Presidential Unit Citation.
He was preceded in death by his daughter, Patricia; mother, Ruth Bloom; father, Ira D. Bloom, Sr.; and step-mother, Agnes Fuller Bloom.
He is survived by his wife, Judith McDaniel Saunders of San Antonio; daughter, Stephanie Saunders of Trinadad, CA; 2 grandchildren; and 2 great grandchildren.
Interment will be held later in Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego, CA.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in John Saunders name may be made to King of Kings Lutheran Church, 13888 Dreamwood, San Antonio, TX 78233 or to the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation, P.O. Box 3008, Princeton, NJ 08543-3008.
