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In late 1916 he joined the Aviation Section, United States Army Signal Corps and in 1917 was a civilian flying instructor at Mineola, Long Island, New York. In January, 1918, he enlisted and was ordered to Camp Merritt, New Jersey, expecting overseas service, but there his orders were changed and he was assigned to the 7th Aero Squadron in the Canal Zone. On December 2nd he made the first airmail flight across the Isthmus. During this time his eyesight had been failing and he was forced to wear goggles with prescription lenses. As a result he was released from the Service as a lieutenant in June, 1919.
Following this, Kaminski returned to his former home in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on July 5, 1919, and he was employed at the Milwaukee Post Office where he remained until his final retirement. During that time he became head dispatcher of the Post Office Motor Vehicle Service. He made his last airplane flight at Milwaukee on August 15, 1955. Following his retirement he moved to St. Petersburg, Florida, where, after gradually failing health, he passed away on February 5, 1960, at age 67. He was a member of the Early Birds.
Flying Pioneer, John G. Kaminski was one of the many men who learned to fly at the first Curtiss flying school at North Island, San Diego, California, then assisted Curtiss in establishing his great record of promoting aviation for several years, and later joined the service of his country until failing eyesight forced him to give up flying. He made a valued contribution to early American aviation history.