John Preneta was born on November 14, 1913, in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. After high school, John traveled to Idaho and Oregon to mine gold in the 1930s, and returned to Rhode Island to join the U.S. Army in 1939. He enlisted in the U.S. Army on June 15, 1939, and after completing basic training and Field Artillery School, he joined the 7th Field Artillery Regiment of the 1st Infantry Division at Fort Ethan Allen, Vermont. Sgt Preneta also attended the Liaison Pilot School at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, and was awarded his Liaison Pilot Wings as an enlisted pilot, and was promoted to Staff Sergeant upon completion of the program. He next attended Field Artillery Officer Training School at Fort Sill, and was commissioned a 2d Lt of Field Artillery on July 28, 1942. Lt Preneta attended Armor School at Fort Knox, Kentucky, and was then assigned to the 704th Tank Destroyer Battalion of the 4th Armored Division at Pine Camp, New York, deploying with his Battalion to England in February 1944. He landed with the Battalion on Utah Beach in Normandy, France, on July 13, 1944, and he served as Company Liaison Officer, Executive Officer, and then Commanding Officer of Company A, 704th Tank Destroyer Battalion, in combat across Northern Europe until he was badly wounded on October 23, 1944. Lt Preneta was treated for his wounds in England and then the United States, and was honorably discharged from the Army on December 10, 1945. After the war, John worked for IBM and and settled in Kentucky where he retired. He died on April 2, 1999, and was buried at Notre Dame Cemetery in Pawtucket, Rhode Island.

His Distinguished Service Cross Citation reads:

For extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while Commanding Company A, 704th Tank Destroyer Battalion, in action against enemy forces on or about 22 October 1944, near Bezange la Petite, France. When the company was halted by an enemy mine field and brought under heavy artillery fire, Lieutenant Preneta boldly made a reconnaissance of the ground, killed two snipers with his pistol and captured two others of the enemy in a pill box. The following day he again distinguished himself by personally leading a gun section through heavy artillery fire and directing their fire against the town from an exposed position until he was wounded and evacuated. First Lieutenant Preneta's conspicuous heroism, and his courageous, inspiring leadership and supreme devotion to duty exemplify the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.