B135730 Rifleman John Windline Culnan was born in Thamesville, Ontario on 12 December 1922, the son of Daniel John Culnan and Annie M. Schnekenburger. He had two sisters, two half-sisters, and one brother and two half-brothers.

He was a restaurant worker when he enlisted with the Active Service in Hamilton, Ontario on 10 November 1942. He trained in Orillia and Camp Borden before heading overseas in April 1943.  On 10 June 1943, he was posted to The Queen’s Own Rifles and trained with them until the invasion of Normandy.

Rifleman Culnan landed on Juno Beach with D Company on D-Day, 6 June 1944 however he was killed in action during the battle for Le Mesnil Patry on 11 June 1944, aged 21.

He is buried in Bény-sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery, grave reference III. F. 1.