John Gillgren

John Gillgren, born in California at the end of World War II, John lived near Malaga Cove until his father was transferred to Japan in 1962. He graduated high school in Yokohama, Japan at Nile C. Kinnick commonly referred to as Yo-Hi, where he excelled in track and field. After completing high school and returning to the US, John joined the U.S. Army and volunteered for Special Forces Training. He served with the Special Forces for 13 years having served two tours in Vietnam. In 1979, he was honorably discharged from the Army and was hired by the Department of State serving in Costa Rica and Zaire. He is a graduate of George Mason University with a BS degree in Education and he has earned his Master’s Degree from the University of Leicester, UK. John is married to Joyce Wells and they have 5 children, 8 grandchildren. John has lived or visited over 110 countries to include 7 war zones and one coup d’état. He and Joyce are retired and are living in northern Florida.