The founder of the site Veterandoe reached out to Harlem World Magazine regarding the cold case of the young man pictured above who we are calling Harlem John Doe who was found dead in Harlem afew years ago.
This veteran we’re naming Harlem John Doe passed in Harlem is an unknown black male found electrocuted on the third rail on the southbound D train tracks at the 145th St and St. Nicholas Avenue Station on June 23, 1997.
Harlem John Doe is described as a African American male, between 20–30 years old, 5 feet, 7 inches tall and approximately 130 pounds. He had a shaven bald head and brown eyes. He died wearing Navy t-shirt size XL, gray cutoff sweatpants, black Levi jeans size 34/30, tan or brown cloth belt, brown plaid jacket size XL, and white Fila sneakers size 8.5.
Based on Harlem John Doe’s had an elaborate EGA tattoo that was tracked down to in one shop in Twentynine Palms California. More research by Veterandoe shows that he was part of the First Force Recon stationed in the Pacific so it is likely he went to boot camp in Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego and not Parris Island so his family/friends may be on the west coast. He likely spent time in Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton. Based on his age range his likely dates of service would have been somewhere in the 1985-1997 years. He has a burn mark on his nose that makes made Veterandoe think he may have worn glasses. It could be from sunglasses but he was found at night so the thinking is that more likely they were prescription glasses. No glasses are noted as being with him. The MCRD Museum Historical Society has platoon graduation photos and graduation books.
Other body markings show smallpox vaccines were discontinued in the US in 1972. They were not recommended for children under 1 year old age when they were given. So if that circular mark, on the far right, is indeed a smallpox vaccine scar it is likely he was born prior to 1971. That would have made him at least 26. It has been mentioned to that this vaccine is given prior to deployments, so it could be related to that and not his childhood vaccinations.
Read the entire report HERE by Veteran Doe.
Anyone with information on this case is asked to call the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1-800-843-5678 or the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner at (804) 786-3174 or go to Veteran Doe.
Veteran Doe was started by volunteer military family members to bring attention to the many unidentified John and Jane Doe cases where local law enforcement has indicated there is a likely military connection.
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