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MEMORIAL ARTICLE
Published Assembly
May 2002
John D H McDonough * '46
No. 15583 * 11 May 1923 - 10 November 2001
Died in Tacoma, WA * Cremated and Inurned at West Point Cemetery, West
Point, NY |
JOHN DANIEL HENRY McDONOUGH was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts and
grew up in East Meadow, New York. He earned his appointment to West Point
by taking the Army entrance examination and joined the Class of 1946 on
1 July 1943.
I knew Jack McDonough from the beginning of our cadet career since we
were assigned to the same squad in the 4th New Cadet Company. During Beast
Barracks, our squad members noted that Jack was enthusiastic and diligent
in all his endeavors. He willingly lent a helping hand to his classmates
and encouraged us to do our best. We found out early that Jack had a booming
voice when it came to cheering, singing, or telling a joke. Unfortunately,
we parted after six weeks when we were "sized-up." Jack was assigned to
G 1 Company, the taller company, while I joined H 1 Company, the shorter
company. Jack worked hard as a student and was liked by men throughout
the Corps. It was said that Jack's strong lungs gave many Army teams the
final spur to victory.
Upon graduation, Jack was commissioned into the Field Artillery. After
completing the Artillery Basic Course at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, he was assigned
to Korea from 1947-1948. Upon returning to the States, he joined the Second
United States Infantry Division at Fort Lewis, Washington. When hostilities
began in Korea, his division promptly departed. Jack remained with the
38th Field Artillery Battalion, Second Infantry Division from 1950-1951.
Since I was with the 37th Field Artillery Battalion, Second Infantry Division,
I met Jack twice during the Korean War. Jack had a fine reputation as a
superb artilleryman and as a brave combat leader. He served as an artillery
forward observer and later commanded Battery B, 38th Field Artillery Battalion.
He distinguished himself by gallantry in action and was awarded the Silver
Star, was wounded twice, and received two Purple Hearts.
Our paths crossed again at Fort Sill when we attended the Artillery
Advanced Course in 1952-1953. Jack was married to Barbara and I was newly
married to Wini. We had a wonderful year, full of parties, dinners, dances,
and humorous stories. At the end of the tour, Jack and Babs were assigned
to the Virginia Military Institute where he taught ROTC.
The last time I saw Jack was in Grafenwoehr, Germany in 1958. He was
the operations officer of the 264th Field Artillery Battalion, an 8" Howitzer
unit, and his battalion was taking its annual firing test. The rules for
this test were rigorous and the long hours were strenuous. The next day,
the score was tallied, and Jack's battalion was rated "Superior." Jack
was an asset to his battalion, and both the officers and men were proud
to be in his outfit.
Upon returning from Europe in 1958, he was assigned to Fort Sill until
1960, then to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas as a student at the Command and
General Staff College from 1960-1961. Then he was sent to the Department
of the Army in Washington, D.C. from 1961-1965. Assignment to Headquarters,
MACV, Republic of Vietnam followed, from 1965-1966. Again, Jack was assigned
to Fort Leavenworth, this time as an instructor during 1966-1969. His last
overseas assignment was with SHAPE Headquarters from 1969-1972, and his
final assignment was with NORAD, Colorado Springs, Colorado in 1972. After
29 years of military service, he was retired from the Army on 1 June 1973,
at which time he was awarded the Legion of Merit.
Jack spent the following years operating his own business as a free-lance
photographer and was also a talented woodworker. He was active in both
Elks and Toastmasters, rising to the highest level of Toastmasters achievement.
He taught hunter safety classes at the local high school, and entertained
nursing home residents throughout the Rogue Valley with slide and talk
shows. He worked with the Red Cross as a volunteer, helping to resettle
refugees from the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo in the Philippine Islands who
were brought back to Tacoma, WA.
Jack's daughter, Kathleen, notified me that Jack had died from a cerebral
hemorrhage in Tacoma, Washington on November 10, 2001.
Jack's daughter, Michelle, summarized her father this way: "He was a
good and extremely generous man who did his best for his family and his
country. He lived an honorable life and enjoyed helping others with no
fanfare or thought of remuneration. He had a great sense of humor and was
a wonderful raconteur. Dad loved history, especially Civil War history,
and he instilled a life-long love of reading, good music, and education
in both his daughters."
Survivors include his former wife, Barbara M. McDonough; their two daughters,
Kathleen L. McDonough, and Michelle S. Covert; a son-in-law, CAPT Harold
D. Covert, USN, Ret.; a sister in-law, Donna C. McDonough; and seven nephews.
Both Wini and I were at the funeral service to greet Jack's family and
tell them how much pleasure we had in knowing him and sharing his laughter
and fine sense of humor. He was a dedicated Army Officer who valued success
both in training and on the battlefield.
The Class of 1946 is proud to proclaim, "Well Done, Jack!
Daughters, Kathleen and Michelle and classmate, Ed Joseph
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