John Marvin Steele was born on November 29, 1912, in Metropolis, Massac County, Illinois. He was the son of John H. Steele and Josephine Lynn Steele. He was married to Carrie Verma Leitch Garner.

John served in the 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division, during World War II. On June 6, 1944, paratroopers from the 82nd airborne division were mistakenly dropped onto the town of Sainte-Mère-Église which was occupied by the Germans. John Steele's parachute was caught on the town church's steeple, where he hung for two hours while the fighting continued on the group below him before finally being cut free and taken prisoner by the Germans. He subsequently escaped and rejoined the Allies. This incident was later made famous by its depiction in the film "The Longest Day."

John continued to visit the town throughout his life and was an honorary citizen of Sainte-Mère-Église. The tavern, Auberge John Steele, stands adjacent to the square and maintains his legacy through photos, letters, and articles hung on its walls.

Steele died of throat cancer on May 16, 1969, in Fayetteville, North Carolina. He was buried at the Masonic Cemetery in Metropolis, Illinois.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, www.normandywarguide.com, en.wikipedia.org