Mr. John E. Shoemaker, 71, of Fayetteville, died Saturday, December 22, 2012, at Cape Fear Valley Medical Center. John was born in Los Angeles, California, in August 1941. He graduated from Valley Christian High School in Artesia, CA. John entered the Army as an Infantryman Private in 1960 and was disability retired as a Special Forces Captain in 1968. He was deployed with President Kennedy's initial 1500 troops to West Berlin in 1961. After graduating Officer Candidate and Basic Airborne schools he deployed to the Dominican Republic with the 82nd Airborne. While stationed at Fort Bragg he served with the 6th Special Forces Group. In Vietnam he served with the 1st Calvary Division and was awarded the Silver Star, Bronze Star and Purple Heart and was critically wounded during the 1968 Tet Offensive. After rehabilitation John served as an Elder at the Church of the Open Door in Fayetteville. He also enjoyed computing- especially rebuilding and updating laptops. A funeral service will be held on Friday, Dec. 28, 2012, at 3p.m. in the Church of the Open Door with the Rev. Jon Wixtrom and Dr. Ralph Richardson presiding. The family will receive friends at the church prior to the service on Friday from 2 to 3p.m. The burial with full military honors will be held at Sandhills State Veterans Cemetery in Spring Lake on Friday, January 4, 2013 at 2:00pm John is survived by his wife of 46 years, Martha Shoemaker; one son, Aaron Shoemaker and wife Lesa of Columbus, Ohio; and three grandchildren, Dylan, Ryan and Anna Grace. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial donations be made to the Liberty Center, 132 Bow Street, Fayetteville NC 28301.Funeral services have not been announced at this time. Please check back.