Photo: Stanley Tretick

While his childhood is part of American history, John says his memories of that time and his dad are fleeting. "I remember he used to call me Sam to annoy me, and I remember getting kind of upset. I'd say: 'My name is not Sam. It's John.' 'Oh, sorry, Sam.' 'My name is not Sam,'" he says. "I remember that, but, you know, I was quite young."