John L. Sinnard (USAF CMSGT, Ret) passed away on Tuesday, May 3 2011 at the age of 84. He was born in New Hampton, Iowa on December 11, 1926. Raised in Cincinnati, Ohio he was an alter server at Holy Family Parish and graduated from Elder High School in 1945.
His distinguished 30 year military career began in 1945, with the US Army, transitioning through the Army Air Corps and culminating with the US Air Force. His awards and decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal with one Oak Leaf cluster; the Joint Service Commendation Medal; the Air Force Good Conduct Medal with three Oak Leaf clusters, and the Air Force Longevity Service Award with six Oak Leaf clusters.
From 1960-1963 he served in Misawa Japan with the Air Force Security Service. It was during this time, while planning a Christmas party for the local Japanese Deaf and Blind School that he realized the best “gift” that these children could ever receive would be corrective eye surgery. He was able to secure the pro-bono services of Dr. Imaizumi, a very prominent and pioneering eye surgeon; however the attendant non-surgical costs were staggering. Undaunted, he began Operation Eyesight, the American effort to afford cornea transplants for children in need. Fund raising began with volunteers literally standing with a can in their hand at the end of the pay line, begging for 10 cent donations from each Airman on payday. That would progress too many successful and creative fund raising events among the Americans based at Misawa Air Base. Operation Eyesight has been in continuous operation since its founding and remains today a thriving and beloved philanthropic organization in Misawa Japan.
John is survived by his wife of 60 years, Marjean Estes Sinnard of Webster Texas; and by his five children: Ellen Gore of Friendswood Texas; Daniel Sinnard of Sierra Vista Arizona; Judith Sinnard of Spring Texas; Diane Doucette of Derry New Hampshire; Mark Sinnard, CSM US Army currently deployed in Iraq; as well as nine grand children and five great grand children.
He will be interred at the Houston National Cemetery, Houston Texas. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations in his name to the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA. http://milarch.org
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