Changes

|image=[[File:OG JohnWinchester.jpg|350px]]<br>[[File:YoungJohnWinchester.jpg|350px]]

|location= [[Heaven]] (currently)<br>[[Lawrence, Kansas]] (formerly)

|episodes= [[1.01 Pilot]]<br>[[1.04 Phantom Traveler]] (voice only)<br>[[1.09 Home]]<br>[[1.10 Asylum]] (not seen)<br>[[1.11 Scarecrow]]<br>[[1.16 Shadow]]<br>[[1.18 Something Wicked]]<br>[[1.20 Dead Man's Blood]]<br>[[1.21 Salvation]]<br>[[1.22 Devil's Trap]]<br>[[2.01 In My Time of Dying]]<br> [[2.22 All Hell Breaks Loose: Part Two]]<br>[[4.03 In the Beginning]]<br>[[4.13 After School Special]] (not seen)<br>[[5.13 The Song Remains the Same]]<br>[[8.12 As Time Goes By]]<br>[[9.07 Bad Boys]] (not seen)<br>[[11.04 Baby]] (vision)<br>[[14.13 Lebanon]]

|author= John Winchesterto [[Sam]]

John Winchester was [[Sam]] and [[Dean]]'s father, and son of husband to [[Henry Mary Winchester]]; a member of the [[Men of Letters]], making John a legacy. Born in Normal, Illinois, he was four when his father disappeared. John thought Henry had simply left, not knowing that his father had fled through time to escape the grasp of the [[Knight of Hell]], [[Abaddon]]. Had Henry not left, John most likely would've been initiated into the Men of Letters.<ref>[[8.12 As Time Goes By]]</ref>

Nothing is known John was born in Normal, Illinois, to [[Millie]] and [[Henry Winchester]]. Henry was a member of the [[Men of Letters]], who intended to induct John's motherinto the order when he was old enough. However, other than she when John was named Milliefour, his father disappeared. At some he moved John thought Henry had simply left, never knowing that his father had fled through time to escape the grasp of the [[LawrenceKnight of Hell]], Kansas[[Abaddon]], who later killed him in the 21st century. After returning from the Vietnam War from where he served as a marine, This left John worked as with a mechanic and was eventually codeep resentment --owner (with in Dean's words "he hated the man."<ref>[[Mike Guenther8.12 As Time Goes By]]) </ref> Nothing is known of a garageJohn's mother Millie. He John described himself as "a mechanic from a family of mechanics," and when he is an adult there is someone in his life who an acquaintance refers to as "his old man."<ref name="four03">[[4.03 In the Beginning]]</ref> so it There may be assumed that either his mother remarried, or that there were have been mechanics on his mother's side. Alternatively he went to live with relatives , and possibly Millie re-partnered or the "old man" was fostered or adoptedJohn's maternal grandfather.

John and [[Mary Campbell]] did not initially get along when they met. However [[Heaven]] was interested in bringing together the lines of [[hunter]]s and [[Men of Letters]]In 1973, and so a [[cherub]] intervened and they fell in love.<ref>[[5.14 My Bloody Valentine]]</ref> At one point as John went to a car yard to purchase a beige VW van but was persuaded by [[Dean]], who had come from the future, to save him to get the [[Impala]] instead.<ref>[[4.03 In the Beginning]]</ref> In 1973, Soon after John was about to propose to Mary in when [[Azazel]] kills killed him. Mary makes made a deal with Azazel for John's life, in exchange for a promise to allow Azazel into her home in ten years ' time.<ref name="four03" /> They After John's resurrection, the two married in Reno on August 19, 1975, at Mary's instigation .<ref>[[12.01 Keep Calm and Carry On]]</ref>

John was unaware of Mary's life as a hunter. He , but did learn of this when Sam and Dean return to 1978 protect their parents from the [[angel]] [[Anna]],who had gone back in time to prevent Sam from being born by killing John and Mary.<ref>[[5.13 The Song Remains the Same]]</ref> but his memory is wiped of this information John consented to being possessed by [[Michael]], following thinking it would help save Mary, allowing Michaelto kill Anna. Afterwards, John and Mary's possession memories are wiped of John in order to kill the encounter with the angels and Sam and Dean by [[AnnaMichael]].

When Mary was murdered by Azazel in 1983, John raised their two sons, Sam and Dean, alone. Mary's marriage mysterious death became an obsession for John, who sought to learn what happened that night and kill the thing that pinned Mary to the ceiling. His quest for revenge led him [[Missouri Mosely]], who revealed to John the world of the supernatural. After taking to the hunter life, John moved his family from town to town following leads on supernatural creatures (telling Sam that he was not always happya traveling salesman). In the early days, and he would often leave the boys with other hunters like [[Pastor Jim]] or with babysitters he'd find at least once motels, but sometimes he moved out of left them to fend for themselves for days or even weeks<ref name="four19">[[4.19 Jump the family homeShark]]</ref>.<ref name="three08">[[3.08 A Very Supernatural Christmas]]</ref><ref name="five16four13">[[54.16 Dark Side 13 After School Special]]</ref> Though he never settled anywhere for very long, John did establish a [[John's lock-up|lock-up]] where he stored weapons (including landmines and grenades), [[curse boxes]], and mementos from Sam and Dean's childhood. When Dean was six or seven, John began training him to use a shotgun, while keeping Sam unaware of the Moonhunting. Sam believed John was a salesman until he read [[John's Journal]] when he was eight.<ref name="three08">[[3.08 A Very Supernatural Christmas]]</ref>

When John met [[Mary Winchester|MaryBobby Singer]] was murdered who advised him about hunting and also, at least by Azazel in 19831989, John raised their two sons, [[looked after Sam]] and Dean alone. Due to the nature of her death, while John sought revenge, taking up was on the occupation and lifestyle of a hunter, which created a unique childhood for his two young sonsroad. John moved his family from town to town following leads on supernatural creatures (telling Sam that he was a traveling salesman), often leaving the boys for days or even weeks<ref name="four19">[[47.19 Jump the Shark10 Death's Door]]</ref> In 1991, he gave an 8-year-old Sam an amulet as a Christmas present to give to John, which he eventually gave to fend for themselvesDean.<ref name="three08">[[3.08 A Very Supernatural Christmas]]</ref><ref name="four13">[[4.13 After School Special]]</ref> Though he never settled anywhere for very long, John did establish a [[John's lock-up|lock-up]] where he stored weapons (including landmines and grenades), [[curse boxes]] and mementos from Sam and Dean's childhood.

In 1990, unbeknownst to Sam and Dean, John fathered was injured on a child with nurse hunt in Windom, Minnesota, and went to the hospital where he met [[Kate Milligan]]. Though During a brief fling, he got her pregnant, although he didn't meet his son -- [[Adam Milligan]] didn't meet John -- until he was 12-years-old, . John had sporadic contact with Adam from 2002 until John's death in 2006. As While John raised Sam and Dean in a very militant and non-conventional environment, it seemed he used his time with Adam to do more traditional father-son activities, such as going to a baseball game, games that he either couldn't or wouldn't do with his older two sons.<ref name="four19">[[4.19 Jump the Shark]]</ref>

John cut off contact with Sam after After Sam chose to leave the family and hunting and attend Stanford, John cut off contact with him, although he regularly visited Palo Alto to check up on Samhim.<ref>[[1.08 Bugs]]</ref> In 2005John and Dean continued hunting together, with Dean also going on hunts on his own as he got older. Around this time John got and Bobby had a lead on falling out -- Dean comments that the last time Bobby saw John he nearly "filled him with buckshot."<ref name="one22">[[demon1.22 Devil's Trap]] that was responsible for Mary's death, and he left Dean in order to pursue it. </ref>

He eventually reunited with Sam and In 2003, John ends up in 2019 after Dean in order to obtain uses a [[the ColtBaozhu]]. As they got closer to grant "what his heart desires," hoping it will remove [[the Yellow-Eyed DemonMichael]], who is trapped in his mind. John was kidnapped by the [[demon]] [[Meg]]gets a chance to reunite with Mary, and possessed by [[Azazel]]reconcile with Sam and Dean. However Sam wasn't able to kill his father John being in 2019 is tampering with the Colt in order timeline, so they destroy the pearl and send John back to kill the demon2003, where he wakes with no memory of what has happened.<ref>[[114.22 Devil's Trap13 Lebanon]]</ref>

Following a car crash caused by In 2005, John got a lead on the [[Trucker|demon]]that was responsible for Mary's death, John offered his own life and the Colt he left Dean in order to [[Azazel]] pursue it. He tried to save keep both Sam and Dean. John revealed that he has known the "truth" about Sam all along. Before he diedat a distance in order to protect them, John warned even refusing to respond when Dean that called him when he may have and Sam returned to Lawrence in response to kill Sam if he couldn't save s visions<ref>[[1.09 Home]]</ref> or when Sam called to tell himDean was dying.<ref>[[21.01 In My Time of Dying12 Faith]]</ref>

John Winchester died and went to [[Hell]] where over the next ten months (equivalent of Following a hundred years) he was tortured car crash caused by a [[AlastairTrucker|demon]], who later told Dean that John never "broke" -- i.e. never gave in to Alastair's temptation to protect himself by torturing others. Dean, by contrast, gave in after three months (equivalent of thirty years) of torture, thus breaking the first of offered his own life and [[the 66 SealsColt]] to free [[LuciferAzazel]]: a righteous man shedding blood in Hellto save Dean. John revealed that he had known the "truth" about Sam all along. Before he died, John warned Dean that he may have to kill Sam if he couldn't save him.<ref>[[42.16 On the Head 01 In My Time of a Pin Dying]]</ref>

In 2007Due to his deal with Azazel, when John Winchester died he was sent to [[Hell]], where over the next ten months (equivalent of a hundred years) he was tortured by [[Alastair]]. Alastair later told Dean that John never "broke" -- that is, he never gave in to Alastair's temptation to protect himself by torturing others. Dean, by contrast, gave in after three months (equivalent of thirty years) of torture, thus breaking the first of [[the 66 Seals]] to free [[Lucifer]] that required that a righteous man shedding blood in Hell.<ref>[[4.16 On the Head of a Pin ]]</ref> When the [[Devil's Gate in Wyoming|Gate to Hell]] was opened , he was one of the spirits who managed to escape and helped Dean kill Azazel by [[Jake Talley]] ripping him out of his meatsuit, distracting him long enough for his son to reclaim the Colt and shoot Azazel in his heart after he returns to his meatsuit. After sharing one last tearful moment with his sons, John's spirit escapes, helping Dean passes on to kill [[AzazelHeaven]].<ref>[[2.22 All Hell Breaks Loose: Part Two]]</ref> John has a quiet moment with his sons after Dean killed Azazel before his spirit passed onto the afterlife.

* Full name given on the tombstone in the alternative reality of episode [[2.20]]: John E. Winchester* At [[Comic-Con 2008]], Eric Kripke [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxxFxhSrrTQ confirmed] that John's middle name was Eric.* In [[11.23 Alpha and Omega]], [[Lady Antonia Bevell]] has cork board with information on the family. John's full name is written as John Edward Winchester. However as other information such as as Sam's birth date are incorrect, the veracity of any of the information there is in doubt.

Dean visits Sam at [[Stanford]], telling him that John has gone missing. Sam reluctantly accompanies Dean to Jericho where John was on a case, but while they find his motel room, and belongings including [[John's Journal]], he is not there.

[[Dean]]’s cell rings, and [[Sam]] answers to hear his father’s voice. John expresses sympathy at the murder of [[Jess]], and for the first time reveals that he knows that what killed Mary and Jess was a [[demon]]. John tells Sam that he must stop looking for him and he starts to give Sam details of a new hunt, but Sam argues that he wants to help John hunt the demon. Dean grabs the phone and takes the details from John about couples who have gone missing near BurkitsvilleBurkittsville, Indiana.

Later , [[Sam]] leaves [[Dean]], intending to travel to California and find John. However, he returns after Dean goes missing on the case, he returns saying that while he still wants to find John, he and Dean need to stick together.

After the Winchesters' encounter with [[Max Miller]] - another boy who acquired powers after the demon visited him as a child and killed his mother, -- Sam notes for the first time that they were lucky to have John as a father; where Max's father turned his anger and rage at the loss of his wife on to his son, John channeled his grief at the creatures that killed Mary while doing what he could to protect his children.

When [[Sam]] and [[Dean]] encounter [[Meg]] in Chicago and realize she is linked to the [[demon]] that killed [[Mary]] and [[Jess]], Dean calls John. He later arrives and Dean embraces him warmly. John reveals that Meg was trying to kill him because he is hunting [[Azazel|the demon]] with the intention of killing it, something he isn't sure is possible but which he is determined to try. Just as he reunites for the first time in years with Sam, greeting him warmly and showing some regret that it has been so long, they are attacked by [[daeva]]s and are nearly killed before Sam manages to dispel them with flares. Afterward, Dean supports John when he says it is too dangerous for them all to be together, and they part with John promising that the fight is just beginning and that they will be a part of it.

[[Dean]] reveals to [[Sam]] that in 1989 when John was hunting a [[shtriga]], he left Dean and Sam alone. When the shtriga attacks attacked Sam, John returns returned just in time to save him. In the present, John sends them the coordinates to Fitchburg, Wisconsin, knowing the shtriga is there and that killing it is unfinished business for Dean.

Following up on the death of the hunter [[Daniel Elkins]], Sam and Dean are surprised when John arrives. He tells them about [[the Colt]], a gun that can kill any supernatural beings, which he know now realizes Elkins had. Together they fight the [[vampires]] that killed Elkins, and retrieve [[the Colt]], although John and Sam clash almost immediately and argue. John tries to send Sam and Dean to safety while he confronts the vampires, but he is nearly killed. However, Sam and Dean defy him and return, saving his life. John then kills the vampire leader [[Luther]] with the Colt. After the hunt, John finally realizes that Sam and Dean are right and decides to continue hunting the demon with Sam and Dean.

As hunters they know start being killed, the Winchester start the begin to hunt for the [[demon]] in earnest, following signs, that John has learned are associated with its appearance, to Salvation, Iowa. [[Sam]] has a vision concerning a young woman and her baby, suggesting she is a target of the demon. John is angry that the boys hadn't told him about Sam's visions, but Dean stands up to him, berating him for almost never picking up the phone whenever they called.

When [[Meg]] calls she demands [[the Colt]], killing his friend [[Caleb]] as John listens. John plans a ruse to give her a fake Colt, as Sam and Dean take the real Colt to kill the demon. Both plans go wrong, when John is captured, by Meg and [[Tom]] and the demon eludes the boys.

[[Sam]] and [[Dean]] turn to [[Bobby]] for help. When [[Meg]] turns up, they capture her, and manage to find out John's location. The boys rescue John, and take him to a remote cabin. It is while he is telling Dean he is proud of him that Dean gets suspicious and realizes that John is possessed by [[the Yellow-Eyed Demon]]. He taunts Dean and Sam and is killing Dean when John manages to wrest control for a moment, and allow Sam to get control of the Colt. Sam , however , can't shoot to kill and the demon escapes after Sam only shoots John in the leg. As they escape in the [[Impala]], a demon-possessed [[Trucker|truck driver]] totals the car.

All the Winchesters are in the hospital, with [[Dean]] near death, when . When [[Sam]] discovers John is planning on pursuing the [[Yellow-Eyed Demon]], they argue. John promises to hold off until Dean recovers, but actually summons the Yellow-Eyed Demon and makes a deal - his life for Dean's.

When [[Dean]] learns that, in the world where he and [[Sam]] are not hunters, the people he saved are all dead, he goes to John's grave to talk about his frustration over the idea that they have to sacrifice their chance at normal lives for others, but . He admits in the endthat, while he doesn't know what the John of this world would say, the father who raised him would remind him that he cannot let others suffer for his stakesake.

When [[Jake Talley]] manages to open the [[Devil's Gate in Wyoming]] using [[the Colt]], John escapes from [[Hell]] and saves [[Dean]] from the [[Yellow-Eyed Demon]]. John distracts the [[demon]] by temporarily pulling him out of its his [[meatsuit]] long enough for Dean to retrieve the Colt and finally kill him as the demon returns to his body. John then shares an emotional moment with his sons and disappears in a flash of white light.

Back in 1973, [[Dean]] meets a young John Winchester, not long returned from Vietnam. Dean follows John to a car lot, where he suggests his father buy the '67 Chevy Impala instead of an old VW van. Dean introduces himself as Dean Van Halen and assures John that the car will still be "bad-ass when it's 40." Dean tries to get info about any mysterious events but John doesn't know anything. Dean follows John on a date with [[Mary Campbell]] - who whom John is planning to propose to.

Later, as Mary decides to elope with John to escape a life of hunting, he is killed by [[Azazel]]. So she She makes a deal to bring John back to life - his life in return for letting Azazel access to her house ten years in the future, when unknown to her he will feed [[demon blood]] to baby Sam.

[[Sam]] and [[Dean]] learn that John had a son with [[Kate Milligan]], a nurse he met January 1990. She worked as a nurse, when he was injured during a hunt. [[Adam Milligan]] was born on September 29, 1990. He didn't have any contact with John until he was twelve, after which John showed up at some of Adam's various birthdays to buy him his first beer or take him to baseball games. Adam lost last saw John "a couple of years ago", so perhaps some time in 2007. In 1990, John killed a [[ghoul]]; now its children want revenge on John, and use Adam and Kate to lure John in. Adam and Kate both die.

[[Castiel]] takes [[Sam]] and [[Dean]] to 1978 to save their parents from [[Anna]], who is trying to kill them. John is shocked to learn the truth about the supernatural, and that Mary was raised as a hunter. When Sam reveals he and Dean, were also raised that way too, John, unaware of their true identity, criticizes their father. Sam gets a chance to defend his father and says he now understands better that John tried his best, and that he loves him.

While in [[Heaven]], Sam and Dean meet [[Ash]], who informs them that he has been unable to locate John, [[Mary]], [[Ellen]] , or [[Jo]] in [[Heaven]], despite his success in tracking down psychic [[Pamela Barnes]].

While on a final assignment before he is properly initiated into the [[Men of Letters]], [[Henry Winchester]] begins to show doubt about joining the group. Confessing He confesses to [[Josie Sands]] his worry that if something were to happen to him, he doesn't know who would take care of John and his mother.

Sam and Dean are investigating monster-related kidnappings at an all-girls academy, and find themselves confronted with a musical based on [[Chuck Shurley]]'s [[The Supernatural Books|''Supernatural'' book series]]. A girl plays John in the musical, and the songs "[[The Road So Far]]" and "[[A Single Man Tear]]" mention the way John's raising of Sam and Dean have negatively impacted their sense of autonomy and free will. At the end of the play, several cast members, including [[Mary Winchester|Mary]], [[Bobby Singer|Bobby]] , and John , perform a rendition of "[[Carry On Wayward Son]]."

While at a bar sulking, Castiel asks Sam and Dean if they love their father. Despite not having had an easy childhood, they both say they do. Sam and Dean tell [[Castiel]] a story about one a time when they and John were investigating a haunting on Long Island, New York. They beg begged him to take them to New York City, despite John's distaste for New York (and the Yankees) he was eventually talked into taking them into the city for sightseeing and pizza. Later that night , as John and Sam were asleep, Dean sneaks snuck off to visit CBGB CBGBs despite being underage. There, a woman invites invited him to drink with her and her friends. He gets got drunk for the first time, so much that according to Dean, "the room starts to spin, and I feel like I'm going to puke forever." John finds found Dean and rescues rescued him from the situation, intimidating everyone in the bar with his militaristic appearance and tone of voice. Dean recalls telling John that he embarrassed him, and that he hated John, to which John replies, "Son, if you don't like me, that's fine. It's not my job to be liked. It's my job to raise you right." Dean tells Castiel asks Sam and Dean if they loved their father, they both say they dothat John succeeded in that.

While driving to Quaker Valley, Oregon , to check out a possible case, believing [[Sam]] to be exhausted, [[Dean]] tells him to get in the back and get some rest. Suddenly Sam is awakened by Judy Collin’s Collins's "Someday Soon" playing on the radio. He asks Dean what he's listening to, only to find the younger version of John Winchester in the driver's seat. Sam believes he's having another vision. John says he is only here to deliver a message -- that [[the Darkness]] is coming and only the boys can stop it. Sam insists that there should be a way to stop the Darkness and that John needs to tell him, but John only answers, “[[God]] helps those who help themselves.” Sam asks John one last question before he wakes up: “Who are you?” After waking up, Sam tells Dean about the dream and his belief that it was someone masquerading as John to deliver a message. When Sam points out that John told him everything he wanted to hear, Dean agrees that that didn't sound like their father at all, but brushes off Sam's claims that it could be [[God]] responding to his [[prayer]]. Dean admits that he dreams about their father all the time, usually a dream where John is teaching Dean how to drive when he's sixteen, not a young boy as when John actually taught him, with Sam in the back seat and John telling him "perfect landing son" when they get home. The dream, which Dean has every couple of months, is something that he finds comforting. Sam says he usually has the same type of dream about their mother - a dream of a normal life with their parents.

When As they were are returning from cases involving [[ghouls]], [[wraiths]] , and [[sirens]], Dean was commenting comments on how John used to love the weapon he was carrying, a bat wrapped with barbed wire which was covered in raw pieces of the [[monsters]] they were hunting, as is Dean. ===[[14.13 Lebanon]]===[[File:John&MaryReunited.jpg|thumb|right|350px|John and [[Mary]] share a moment together.]]When Dean uses the [[Baozhu]] and wishes for his heart's desire, he inadvertently summons John Winchester from 2003. After attacking and overpowering his sons, they talk about everything that's happened since his death: how they saved the world multiple times, discovered the truth about the Men of Letters from [[Henry Winchester|their grandfather]], and live in the Bunker with [[Castiel]] and [[Jack]]. John also sees [[Mary]] for the first time since her death in 1983. While he looks through the lore books, John also talks with Sam about their fight the night Sam left for Stanford. Sam tells John that while he thinks about him a lot, he never thinks about their fights. Sam felt bad about how he never got to say goodbye before finding John on the floor in the hospital. However, Sam acknowledges that John did the best he could for them. Later, they discover that they tampered with time by pulling John from the past. The consequences include Sam never getting back into the hunting life, Dean being wanted for $100,000 on multiple charges, Mary never being brought back to life by [[Amara]], presumably Jack never being born, and Castiel never meeting the Winchesters. They realize that they need to send John back to 2003 to correct the past. Sam, Dean, and Mary are hesitant, but John accepts that he has to go back. John also tells Dean that he never meant for his sons to have to live the hunter life as it was supposed to end between Yellow Eyes and him. He wanted Dean to have a normal life and have a family of his own, but Dean acknowledges that he already has a family. After sharing their first meal as a family, they gather around for one last tearful goodbye. As John holds Mary's hand, Sam smashes the Baozhu, sending John back to 2003. As John wakes up in the Impala back in 2003, he gets a call from Dean. He tells Dean that he had "one hell of a dream" and that he will see Dean soon. ===[[14.18 Absence]]===After Mary is accidentally killed by Jack, [[Dumah]] allows [[Castiel]] to see her special [[Heaven]], where Mary is at peace and reunited with John. During Mary's hunter's funeral, John appears in a flashback to [[14.13 Lebanon]]. ===[[14.19 Jack in the Box]]===After [[Castiel]] tries to get to [[Jack Kline]], [[Dumah]] threatens to end John and Mary's shared Heaven with a snap of her fingers if Castiel doesn't do as she says. In retaliation and to protect John and Mary, Castiel instantly kills Dumah with his [[angel blade]], ensuring their safety. ===[[15.20 Carry On]]===After [[Dean]] dies and arrives in Heaven, he is met by [[Bobby]], who tells him that all the walls have been taken down by Jack and Heaven is everyone happy and together. He notes that John and [[Mary]] have a place "over yonder."

* John cannot plausibly have been born any later than 1957 (so as to have been 18, and in the Marines, in 1975). Considering the notes below about Vietnam force reduction, the likelihood is high that he turned 18 before 1971 (in which case his birth year would be 1953 or earlier). This is supported by the fact that he is clearly at least a few years old in [[8.12 As Time Goes By]].

John tended to work alone and avoid other hunters, although many appeared to know him or know of him and he seemed to have a good reputation as a hunter. According to [[Jo's Journal]], John used to visit the [[Roadhouse]] before her father's death in 1995. [[Ellen]] infers that her husband's death was John's fault - they were both usually solo hunters, who were hunting together, when Bill died.<ref>[[2.06 No Exit]]</ref> While in Heaven, [[Ash]] told Dean and Sam that he searched for John Winchester when he arrived, but he reported that he hasn't seen John.<ref name="five16" />

[[ImageFile:DogtagsJohn's_Dog_Tags.jpgpng|right|thumb|John's dog tags.]]

The Tet Offensive , that marked the escalation of the North Vietnamese offensive against the the South Vietnamese, along with the United States Armed Forces and their allies, took place in January 1968. It is possible that this got John all fired up with patriotic fervor and he decided to screw school and enlist in the Marines. If he joined with his parents' permission, he could have been seventeen at this point. At that stage in the war, recruits were given four months of training then shipped straight out to Vietnam, so he would have been there by June 1968, by which time American bombing was already being curtailed and negotiations were beginning. Even so, it would be another year until troop withdrawal began.

Given the timing of the events in [[4.03 In the Beginning]] (April 1973), and the knowledge that he'd just returned from Vietnam, he would've had to have joined in 1971 in order to have served 2-years. If the headstone in [[2.20 What Is and What Should Never Be]] is true, then John would have turned 17 in April 1971, and this is the earliest he could have joined the Marines. Therefore, John didn't finish high school.

Although the Marines were in Vietnam until the end of the war (assisting in the evacuation of US embassies, for example,) ground force reduction begins began in July of 1971. However, if Dean's statement was correct and John was in the 2nd Battalion 1st Marines (Echo 2/1), then he would have been reassigned to Camp Pendleton in June 1971.

In April 1971 the battalion was sent to Da Nang to join the 3rd Marine Amphibious Brigade (IIIMAB). The battalion was in Da Nang for three months, until June 1971, and then it was sent to the newly -established Camp Pendleton in California. So John would have spent the majority of his military life on a safe, State-side base and not in the jungles of Vietnam.

* Full name given on the tombstone in the alternative reality of episode [[2.20]]File: John E. Winchester* At [[Comic's-Con 2008]], Eric Kripke [http://www.youtubeBat.com/watch?v=lxxFxhSrrTQ confirmed] that png|thumb|right|350px|John's middle name was Ericbarbed wire wrapped baseball bat.]]* In one version of the pilot script, [[Sam ]] and [[Dean ]] found John dead on the ceiling.^{[[S1Com]],p.11}* After having given the [[Impala ]] to Dean, John drives a GMC Sierra Grande with the Kansas license plate CSG 8R3.* John appears in a flashback in the spin-off novel ''[[Supernatural: Heart of the Dragon]]'', where he hunts a fire-demon in San Francisco in 1989 (The the Campbells, unknown to John, having defeated and banished the same demon in 1969), with [[Dean]], [[Sam]] , and [[Castiel]] permanently defeating the demon in 2009. His presence is also hinted at in the 1969 flashback, when [[Deanna Campbell]] reflects on a mechanic that Mary is acquainted with back home.* [[Jeffrey Dean Morgan]], who is playing plays [http://walkingdead.wikia.com/wiki/Negan_(TV_Series) Negan] on ''The Walking Dead'', had has joked about [http://storify.com/superwiki/supernatural-walking-dead-real-life-crossover a crossover between ''Supernatural '' and ''The Walking Dead''] along with [[Jensen Ackles]] and fellow Walking Dead actor Michael Cudlitz . Negan's signature weapon, [http://walkingdead.wikia.com/wiki/Lucille_(TV_Series) Lucille]; , a baseball bat wrapped in barbed wire, appears in [[12.15 Somewhere Between Heaven and Hell]].* John Winchester's age at the time of [[2.01 In My Time of Dying]] would have been 52 years old. With Jeffery Dean Morgan's return to ''Supernatural'' in [[14.13 Lebanon]], he would have been the same age as John Winchester was in his last appearance. However, in "Lebanon" he was playing John Winchester three years younger.