John Dillinger Jr was born in 1903 to parents John Dillinger Sr and Mary Ellen Lancaster in Indianapolis, IN and spent his childhood in Mooresville, IN. He was known for his charisma, but had a rebellious streak that would often get him in trouble at school.
After dropping out of school he worked in a machine shop before he joined the Navy in 1923. Later that year, he deserted and was dishonerably discharged in December.
Once he had left the military, Dillinger did odd jobs trying to make a living for himself, but found that he didn't like working for others. One of his friends convinced Dillinger to help him rob a grocery store, which he was caught and jailed for.
His prison sentence of 10 years was unusually long for a first time offence and Dillinger himself stated that this led to him become callus and bitter towards the law.
