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Birth:     Jun. 25, 1949
Saint Louis
St. Louis City
Missouri, USA
Death:     Aug. 9, 2015
Las Cruces
Doña Ana County
New Mexico, USA

U. S. Army Major John M. Claffy, Retired, age 66, of Las Cruces, New Mexico, formerly of Ferguson, Missouri, left this world for a better place on August 9, 2015. He was born in St. Louis, Missouri, on June 25, 1949, to John Kenneth and Mary (Hines) Claffy who preceded him in death. John is survived by his only son, John Nestor Claffy. Other survivors include his brothers Larry and Tom, and sisters Shirley Hahn and Jeannette DePaul, his uncle Harmon Lee Hines and a multitude of nieces and nephews.

John served his country on active duty from 1967 until 1981. After separation from active duty, he received a commission to 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Reserves in 1982 and ultimately retired with the rank of Major in 1996, after 28 years of service. John served in the 3rd Ordnance Battalion (Ammunition) Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Section, Long Bien, Republic Of Vietnam, during the Vietnam War. In Vietnam John received the Purple Heart Medal, Bronze Star Medal, and the Army Commendation Medal. John was a member of the National EOD Association (NATEODA)

John was a talented genealogist, a treasure hunter and an avid mineralogist. If there was a subject he knew better than American and World History, it was professional baseball. He could bring a smile to anyone's face and was quite the practical joker. "Big John" was very generous towards his family and friends. If anyone needed a hand up he was always ready to help.