John Williams Armstrong was born on October 23, 1878 in Rogersville, Hawkins County, Tennessee. He was the son of John M. Armstrong and Edna Cox. John and his family moved soon after his birth to the Harmony Community near Jonesborough, Washington County, Tennessee. He first enlisted in the United States Army on 7 February 1902 while working as a Farmer in Pueblo, Colorado at age 23 and three months. He served in the U.S. Army during World War I as a Corporal in Company D, 18th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division. He was Killed in Action on July 18, 1918 in Picardie, France (at the age of 39) and is now buried in Graves Cemetery, Guilford, Nodaway County, Missouri, USA. His name is inscribed on the Buzancy monument as SGT J W ARMSTRONG under Company B.