John S. Valent was born July 22, 1922, at Blandburg,
Cambria County, Pennsylvania.
He was 23 years old and 5' 10½" tall when he enlisted in the
Pennsylvania State Police, he served in the US Navy from September
1, 1942, to November 1, 1945, and fought during World War II.
Corporal Valent enlisted in the Pennsylvania State Police from
Blandburg, PA on February 1, 1946, and was assigned to Troop G,
Hollidaysburg.
At 7:10 p.m. on December 9, 1971, Corporal Valent was on patrol. He
had stopped to question three young men in the Jamesway Department
Store parking lot on U.S. Route 22, just outside of Lewistown. He
called the Lewistown Station to report he was bringing the three in.
They claimed to be from New York City and had no identification. The
three young men were put in the back seat of the patrol car, and
Corporal Valent proceeded to the station only a quarter of a mile
away. Two blocks from the barracks, one of the three shot Corporal
Valent in the back of the head twice. The trio escaped.
Corporal Valent was pronounced dead at Lewistown Hospital at 7:32
p.m. Corporal Valent was buried with full military honors at Juniata
Memorial Park Cemetery, Lewistown. Governor Milton J. Shapp and
Colonel Rocco P. Urella attended. State and local police from six
states joined over fifty Commonwealth police agencies in paying
tribute to Corporal Valent.
He was survived by his wife, Mrs. Madeline Valent, of Lewistown. and
3 children Sharon, Deborah, and
Bruce
and one grandchild Christie At 49, Corporal Valent had completed 25
years of Pennsylvania State Police service.
The three escapees were later identified as Charles E. Koons, 22;
Charles H. Knisley, 20; and Mark Geddes, 22, all of Altoona. The
morning after Valent's death, Koons was shot and killed in a
shoot-out with Troopers in Altoona. In the shoot-out, Trooper James
H. Bradley, and Altoona Police Officer William Carter were wounded.
Knisley and Geddes were later apprehended and charged with Corporal
Valent's murder. |