John Paul Mondrick of Durhamville, New York passed away on Friday, Sept. 27 after a long battle with cancer. He was 77.

John was born March 3, 1947, to Alex and Rose Horodnicki Mondrick, Lee Center, New York. He graduated from RFA in 1965.

He was drafted into the Army in 1966 and, in true Mondrick style, he was determined to make the most of it. After basic training, he was chosen for Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning Georgia and received his wings after completing Airborne training there. He was then sent to Fort Bragg, North Carolina to complete his special forces training. He proudly served his country as a Halo Paratrooper assigned to the 46th Special Forces Company in Thailand and completed numerous missions during the Vietnam war. On Nov. 24, 1968, while serving as one of 10 Americans embedded with a Cambodian and Vietnamese Unit during a combat mission, he was seriously wounded sustaining numerous injuries. He was awarded the Purple Heart, Bronze Star and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Bronze Star and Cluster. Captain Mondrick returned to the United States and completed his service assigned to Company E, 7th Special Forces, Fort Bragg, North Carolina in 1972.

Back to civilian life, he funnelled his energy into working with horses. John raised several racehorses and was his own sulky driver. One of his best known horses being Johnny Halo. He raced at Vernon Downs and also had his horses raced by other drivers at the Downs. He was also part owner of horses raced at The Meadowlands. He worked with his friends supplying high quality hay to racetracks for many years.

On April 28, 1990, he was united in marriage to Lynne Hermann. John and Lynne are dedicated congregants of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church in Oneida. John is survived by his wife and their three children, John (Meghan), Gettysburg, PA, Julie (Shawn) Ano, and David (Sarah), Oneida, NY; two grandchildren, John Paul III, and Lyra Ano. He is also survived by his siblings, Kenneth, Robert (Mary Claire), James (Tammy), Rose (L. James) Jones, Martin (Shirley); and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. He was predeceased by his parents and his sister and brother-in-law, Dorothy and Steven VanHoeven.

Through his tough exterior he was a softie at heart and made hundreds of friends from childhood and his life’s journey. He was a member of several clubs and organizations where he donated both his time and financial support and cherished his club friends. These included Lee American Legion, Point Rock Fish and Game Club, Disabled American Veterans, Military Order of the Purple Heart, Stanwix Men’s Club, Durhamville Veterans Club. He was also a skilled hunter and he shared that skill with his brothers, his sons, daughter and many friends.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024, from St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, 551 Sayles Street, Oneida, with the Reverend Robert Wollaber, officiating. Interment, with full military honours, will be made in Glenwood Cemetery. Friends may call from 4-7 p.m., at the Campbell-Dean Funeral Home, Inc., 260 Main Street, Oneida on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024. A Celebration of Life will also be held at the Stanwix Men’s Club on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024 from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the family and friends of John Mondrick.