John was inducted at Fargo, ND, on March 28, 1918, and sent to Camp Dodge, Ia. He was assigned to Co. C, 137th Inf. and sent overseas on April 25, 1918. John was engaged in the Meuse-Argonne Offensive, in the Defensive Sectors at Gerardmer in the Alsace, and Grange-le-Comte in Lorraine. He was killed in action on September 28, 1918 and his remains were returned to the U.S. on July 25, 1921. The Morton-Reger American Legion Post in Page, ND is named after him.