John Wendell was born on December 24, 1935, in Shreveport, Louisiana. He was commissioned a 2d Lt in the U.S. Air Force through the Air Force ROTC program at Louisiana Tech University on January 27, 1959, and went on active duty beginning March 16, 1959. Lt Wendell next completed Officer Pre-Flight Training at Lackland AFB, Texas, from March to April 1959, followed by Pilot Training at Maldon AB, Missouri, and at Webb AFB, Texas, from April 1959 to April 1960. He attended Advanced Flying School at Luke AFB, Arizona, from May to November 1960, and then F-100 Super Sabre Combat Crew Training at Nellis AFB, Nevada, from December 1960 to March 1961. His first assignment was as an F-100 and then F-105 Thunderchief pilot with the 336th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Seymour Johnson AFB, North Carolina, from April 1961 to May 1963, followed by service as an F-105 pilot with the 22nd Tactical Fighter Squadron at Bitburg AB, West Germany, from May 1963 to April 1966. Capt Wendell deployed to Southeast Asia in April 1966, serving as an F-105 pilot with the 33rd Tactical Fighter Squadron at Takhli Royal Thai AFB, Thailand, from April 1966 until he was forced to eject from his stricken aircraft over North Vietnam on August 7, 1966. After spending 2,402 days in captivity, Major Wendell was released during Operation Homecoming on March 4, 1973. He was briefly hospitalized at Wilford Hall Medical Center at Lackland AFB, Texas, and then received an Air Force Institute of Technology assignment to complete his Master's Degree at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, from September 1973 to September 1975. Lt Col Wendell's final assignment was as a Systems Program Manager assigned to the Deputy for Development Plans, Armament Development and Test Center at Eglin AFB, Florida, from September 1975 until his retirement from the Air Force on April 1, 1979. John Wendell Flew West on October 24, 2009, and was buried at Greenwood Memorial Park in Fort Worth, Texas.

His 2nd Silver Star Citation reads:

For the Period 7 August 1966 to 20 August 1966 - This officer distinguished himself by gallantry and intrepidity in action in connection with military operations against an opposing armed force during the above period while a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam. Ignoring international agreements on treatment of prisoners of war, the enemy resorted to mental and physical cruelties to obtain information, confessions, and propaganda materials. This individual resisted their demands by calling upon his deepest inner strengths in a manner which reflected his devotion to duty and great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.