John C. Begovich (January 17, 1916 in Jackson Gate, CA – November 2, 1999 in Amador, CA) served in the

California State Senate The California State Senate is the upper house of the California State Legislature, the lower house being the California State Assembly. The State Senate convenes, along with the State Assembly, at the California State Capitol in Sacramento, Cal ...

for the 9th district from 1961 to 1967 and during

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

he served in the

United States Army The United States Army (USA) is the land service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army of the United States in the U.S. Constitution.Article II, section 2, cla ...

. In World War II, he "fought in North Africa, Sicily, Italy and France with the 3rd Infantry Division and was awarded a

Silver Star The Silver Star Medal (SSM) is the United States Armed Forces' third-highest military decoration for valor in combat. The Silver Star Medal is awarded primarily to members of the United States Armed Forces for gallantry in action against an e ...

and the French

Croix de Guerre The ''Croix de Guerre'' (, ''Cross of War'') is a military decoration of France. It was first created in 1915 and consists of a square-cross medal on two crossed swords, hanging from a ribbon with various degree pins. The decoration was first awa ...

for bravery under fire. He won a battlefield commission and received three

Purple Heart The Purple Heart (PH) is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those wounded or killed while serving, on or after 5 April 1917, with the U.S. military. With its forerunner, the Badge of Military Merit, w ...

s for combat wounds." {Source: The Sacramento Bee] 1966–1970: U.S. Marshal for California's eastern judicial district 1977–1996: Member, Amador County Board of Supervisors From Jackson, California, Jackson to State Route 88, State Route 49 is named the John C. Begovich Memorial Highway.

References

1916 births 1999 deaths United States Army personnel of World War II California state senators American people of Serbian descent 20th-century American legislators People from Jackson, California United States Army officers Recipients of the Croix de Guerre 1939–1945 (France) Recipients of the Silver Star Military personnel from California 20th-century California politicians {{california-CASenate-stub