John Wells was born on October 12, 1949, in Pascagoula, Mississippi, and grew up in Three Rivers, Mississippi. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in April 1969, and completed basic training in June 1969. After attending Advanced Individual Training as an Infantryman, Wells deployed to South Vietnam in September 1969. Sgt Wells was assigned to Company A, 1st Battalion, 52nd Infantry Regiment of the 198th Infantry Brigade in South Vietnam from September 1969 until he was killed in action on June 4, 1970. John Wells was buried at the Davis Chapel Cemetery in Jackson County, Mississippi. In 2014, a mile long stretch of Highway 63 in Three Rivers, Mississippi, was dedicated in his honor.

Soldier's Creed:

I am an American Soldier.

I am a warrior and a member of a team.

I serve the people of the United States, and live the Army Values.

I will always place the mission first.

I will never accept defeat.

I will never quit.

I will never leave a fallen comrade.

I am disciplined, physically and mentally tough, trained and proficient in my warrior tasks and drills.

I always maintain my arms, my equipment and myself.

I am an expert and I am a professional.

I stand ready to deploy, engage, and destroy, the enemies of the United States of America in close combat.

I am a guardian of freedom and the American way of life.

I am an American Soldier.