John Olaf “Johnny” Sundquist was born November 28, 1945 to Edward Wilhelm and Eleanor Dunrud Sundquist in Clearwater County, Minnesota. Edward had been born and raised in Winsor Township of Clearwater County and Eleanor grew up in Gonvick. Edward and Eleanor married on
December 2, 1938 in Gonvick and they farmed north of Berner until their retirement. The Sundquists had three sons and one daughter: LeRoy, Jim, Johnny and Faye.

Johnny was 20 years old when he joined the Army in the specialty of Light Weapons Infantry. Private First Class. Sundquist was sent to Vietnam on March 30, 1966 with A
Company, 2nd Infantry, 2nd Battalion of the 1st Infantry Division. The 2nd Battalion had been deployed to Vietnam in September of 1965, landing on the beach at Vũng Tàu in
October 1965. From there they proceeded to their assigned area, Lai Khe. The battalion initially fought as light infantry in the area north and west of Saigon.

PFC Sundquist was reported killed by small arms fire in hostile action on October 21, 1966 in Thua Thien Province, South Vietnam. His family was notified and his body was shipped home to be buried in the United Lutheran Cemetery in Berner, Minnesota. Johnny Sundquist was 20 years old.

He was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Vietnam Campaign Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal and the Purple Heart.