John Binford Terry, Jr. was born on April 25, 1914, in McAdams, Mississippi. He was the son of John Binford Terry and Lillian G. Turner Terry. He was married to Edna Louise McMillan Melton.

John Binford, Jr. served in the 849th Bomber Squadron, 490th Bomber Group, Heavy, as a Sergeant and Ball Turret Gunner on the B-17 #43-38046 during World War II. He was Killed in Action on March 17, 1945, in a mid-air collision with another B-17 (serial #43-38071). As a result, all members of his crew were killed, and their plane crashed in Karnberg, Germany. The other B-17's crew were all safe.

Sgt Terry is now buried in the Netherlands American Cemetery, Margraten, Netherlands.

B-17 43-38046 crew:
Pilot - 1LT Arthur Stern
Co-Pilot - F/O Clifton W. Nippert
Navigator - 2LT Edmund M. De Wahl
Engineer/Top Turret Gunner - S/SGT James C. Rivers
Radio Operator - SGT George V. Devlin
Ball Turret Gunner - SGT John B. Terry, Jr.
Waist Gunner - SGT Jimmie R. Heathman
Tail Gunner - SGT Edward C. Holdren
Togglier - SGT Willard B. Fay