John Miessner was born in Germany 1937, raised in the northwest part of the country. John was the middle of 5 children. His father was a naval officer during the World War II. His mother could care of the home, moving the children a couple times for safety. He would listen to the Führer Adolf Hitler on the radio two or three times a week. As a young boy he hoped his country would win the war and his father would come home. After the war he was located on the side that would later become West Germany.