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John Wilson was a veteran of the Korean War. After the conflict, Wilson was discharged and took work in a local machine shop and settled down in Knoxville, Tennessee with his wife Lucille and baby daughter Loretta. On the night of March 17, 1955, John and his family were attacked by the local Klu Klux Klan. He was lynched and his family was burned to death. After the Klan left, John survived his lynching. Devastated by the death of his family, John followed where the Klan that murdered his family. John then forged two iron sledge hammers and become the vigilante known as John Henry. For three months, John plagued the Klan and had killed two Klansmen in his crusade. John Henry's reputation attracted news and remained a hot staple on the public, including the Martian J'onn J'onzz, who he consider him an actual American hero.
Tragically, John was wounded by the Klan and stumble upon a backyard and discovered by a white girl, who outed him out despite John's pleading for help. Once caught he was burned alive.
However, his death didn't go unmentioned and his endeavors was highlighted in the television news show The Big Picture, which the host extol Wilson's stance against racism and criticize the American government for ignoring the serious issue. J'onn J'onzz saw this and was very dismayed of Wilson's death, which contribute his demoralizing faith for humanity.
Following the defeat of The Centre, a young John Henry Irons sits reading near John Wilson's gravestone. This suggest that the young Irons may someday carry on Wilson's legacy.
Sledgehammers
John Henry features very little in the animated movie, and his picture on the front page of Time magazine appears on J'onn J'onzz's wall. He only appear on the news right before the Flash's interrupted announcement, who he also pays his respect for Wilson.
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