A retired entrepreneur residing in Sun City West, Arizona, John Oscar Branch served in the United States Navy during the 1970s as a petty officer third class, FTG3. Over a two-year period, he saw action in North Vietnam as part of an all-volunteer crew aboard the USS Rowan DD-782, carrying out dangerous missions. Upon concluding his military career, Mr. Branch earned an associate’s in real estate appraisal from Portland Community College and founded his own appraisal company, which he ran out of Tigard, Oregon, for two years.

He is also the founder of Tigard-based companies Oregon Chimney Repair and Cleaning and John O. Branch Chimney Sweep; the former is still in business under different ownership, while the latter served residences throughout the Portland metropolitan area. In retirement, he enjoys reading the works of authors Ernest Hemingway and John Steinbeck and stays active by walking every morning. He also enjoys watching action films.