John North: A Passion for Hot Rods

A police car raced through the outskirts of 60’s Germantown, in hot pursuit of a ‘64 Chevy Impala. But it wasn’t anything sinister, only the fast-paced hobby shared between an officer with a secret, and a high school car buff.

John North had a passion for hot rods, commanding the Impala and a ‘48 Mercury with suicide doors.

Charles Aisbet met John when they were around 14, through baseball. They liked wrestling and fighting, but most of all: drag racing. They conquered the streets of Germantown, often skidding down a popular road Charles called “Highway J.”

“He could shift gears like nobody else could,” said Aisbet. “He raced with no fear.”

John spent his first seven years in Roseburg, Oregon; a logging town.  As a 4-year-old, he followed his sister Joan out to a pond where he slipped, and was trapped under the logs. He escaped, but landed in the hospital with a case of pneumonia. Sabina, his younger sister, described John as a tease, as any older brother would be. He was a fisher and a hunter, and naturally went to the lake every weekend, often with Charles.

The friends spent constant time together, through racing, fighting, and camping in the Northwoods of Wisconsin. They were also similar in another way. The two were both in love with the same girl– a woman named Cathy, who runs a Germantown beauty shop.

Charles was jealous of John for taking his girlfriend, but it wasn’t serious. The relationship was, however. He guessed they probably would have gotten married when John returned from Vietnam.

Before leaving for the war, John worked delivering furniture in Menomonee Falls at Village Furniture, and worked with cars at Jackson Body in Jackson, Wis. (where the family had moved). He left high school and joined the Army in 1967. He wanted a focus, according to Sabina. His father was also a serviceman, and helped build the Alaska Highway during World War II.

“We didn’t know what they were getting into,” said Aisbet.

He and John were on a buddy plan in the Army, and were told to stick together. He said the two had fun in boot camp, remembering John as crazy, joking, and never serious. He was always encouraging others with a smile on his face. John once volunteered Charles for a boxing match by throwing his hand in the air, then backing away, laughing as Charles lifted his fists to fight.

To both of their disappointments, Charles and John were split up in Vietnam. The U.S. Government no longer wanted friends to stay together. John remained in the military for two years with the rank Private First Class; Charles for three– he moved to Germany for his final year.

On June 10, 1969, John’s unit was in a defensive position near the village of Nghi Son, approximately 22 miles northwest of Tam Ky City in Quang Nam Province. He had warned comrades of danger and directed them to defensive positions before a booby trap exploded. Though injured, he administered first aid to a fellow soldier.

“Typical him,” said Sabina, in reaction to her brother’s selfless act of service to a friend.

Charles wanted payback after hearing of John’s death. He said he often wonders about what could have been.

It was a scalding day in Twisp, WA during the 21-gun salute as John was buried. Twisp was John’s favorite spot, because of the mountains and life outdoors, and the family often vacationed there.

Sabina was 11 when she and her parents took the drive back from Washington to Wisconsin following John’s service. Two full days of driving in silence. It was no race, but that was John’s thing. He was always just a little faster than the rest of us.