Fuchs initially enlisted in the Army Reserve in February 1987 at the age of 17. He did his Army basic training and AIT at Fort Sill in Oklahoma. He received training in field artillery. After a year in the Army Reserve, Fuchs then joined the South Dakota Army Guard for four years. He then joined the Air Force. He was able to fast track his basic training for the Air Force because of his previous basic training with the Army. John did his basic training for the Air Force at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas. He then attended tech school at Chanute Air Force Base in Illinois for ground support equipment mechanic. After four years active Air Force, he then joined the South Dakota Air Guard until he retired in September 2012. He retired as an E6 Tech Sergeant.

Fuchs has been deployed overseas several times. In 1990-1991, he was deployed to the Philippines for thirteen months where he was stationed at Clark Air Force Base. During his deployment, Mount Pinatubo errupted and he was a part of the evacuation of military personnel and civilians. This was the most devastation Fuchs had ever seen. At the same time as the volcano eruption, a typhoon hit the island and there were constant earthquakes. He deployed with the Wagner Army Guard Unit to Germany for several weeks for training in 1999. In 2002, Fuchs deployed to Turkey for three weeks with the Air Guard. They were doing mission controls in the no fly zones where he was a mechanic/ground support.He also did two fourty-five day tours in in 2006 and 2008 at the Balad Air Force Base in Iraq.

Fuchs really enjoyed his time in Turkey. The climate was warm, the people were very friendly, and the food was amazing. He enjoyed his deployments because he was able to see different places in the world and experience different local cultures. He felt he was afforded a lot of unique experiences and was able to see places he never would have seen or visited otherwise. He is glad that he enlisted while he was young because now he can look back at those memories throughout the rest of his life.

John received many awards/ ribbons/campaigns during his military career. They included two Air Force Achievement Awards. One for being a part of the supporting flight line missions to evacuate the Philippines. The second was for his time at the Grand Forks Air Force Base when he was a part of the base breaking the B1 Bomber World Records. They broke seven out of eight of the world records. He received two National Defense Ribbons. One for the Gulf War; one for Iraq.

Fuchs was born in Parkston, South Dakota. He spent his school years in Yankton and graduated from Yankton High School. He married Jolene Haberman in 1988 and she was able to go with him during his time in the Philippines. They have two children Kelsey and Brody.

He has two grandsons Miles and Finn. When he was out of the military/between military enlistments, he has always done mechanic and welding type work throughout southeastern South Dakota. His hobbies include hunting, fishing, shooting trap and playing pool. He enjoys tinkering with tractors and other bigger Ag equipment. John has been a member of the Greer Post #11 American Legion for the past 3 years.

Fuchs comes from a long line of military tradition and that played a big role in his decision to enlist. His grandfather, John Fuchs Jr. volunteered in 1940 for the Army and served under General Patton.

He was a World War II Veteran that was burned in an explosion and received a Purple Heart. His father, Kenny Fuchs, was a Vietnam Veteran that was drafted and fought in Vietnam.

One piece of advice that Fuchs would give to anyone thinking about or interested in the military would be. 'If you want adventure; the military is the place to get it when you are young.' Thank you John for your service and for being the February Veteran of the month.