John H. Battle, born in the Masonic in El Paso, TX was listed on his birth certificate as just "J. R." Battle.  By 1930 his family TX moved to Big Spring, TX.

John  enlisted in the Army at an undetermined time as his enlistment records have been lost in the National Archives.

On 26 April 19445, Pvt Battle was transferred to Hq 2nd, 508th PIR from the 51st Reinforcement Battalion.  He and his high school teammate played on the 508th football team in Frankfurt, Germany.