Private John Sheldon Huff was born on October 5, 1901, in Confluence, Leslie County, Kentucky, to Blevins and Mary E. Doolin Huff. He was one of nine children, having four sisters and four brothers. John attended school in his early years and later worked as a farm laborer, helping to support his family in rural Kentucky.

At the young age of 15, John enlisted in the Kentucky National Guard and served with Company G, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Regiment, Kentucky Infantry during the Mexican Border Campaign from 1916 to 1917. This campaign, also known as the Punitive Expedition, aimed to secure the U.S.-Mexico border during the unrest caused by Pancho Villa’s revolutionary forces. When the United States entered World War I in April 1917, John continued his military service. He was initially assigned to Company A, 150th Infantry Regiment but was later transferred to Company C, 7th Infantry Regiment, 5th Brigade, 3rd Division. This division, famously known as the “Rock of the Marne,” played a pivotal role in halting the German advance during the Second Battle of the Marne in July 1918.

On October 4, 1918, one day before his 17th birthday, Private Huff was killed in action in France during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive, the largest and deadliest battle involving American forces in World War I. Initially listed as missing in action, his status was later confirmed as killed in action. John’s sacrifice came during a critical push to break through German lines in the final weeks of the war. He was originally buried at the Argonne American Cemetery and Memorial in Romagne-sous-Montfaucon, Meuse, France. In August 1921, his remains were repatriated to the United States and interred in the Huff Family Cemetery in his hometown of Confluence, Leslie County, Kentucky.

John’s journey to France began when he sailed aboard the Corsican out of New York on June 11, 1918, as part of the 2nd Company, Camp Shelby, June Automatic Replacement Draft. His name is now etched on the Kentucky National Guard Memorial, ensuring his service and sacrifice are honored and remembered. Despite his young age, John Sheldon Huff demonstrated exceptional courage and commitment, serving in two significant military campaigns. His life and ultimate sacrifice remain a testament to the bravery and selflessness of those who serve their country.