John N. McLaughlin

John Nicholas McLaughlin (September 21, 1918 - August 8, 2002) was an highly decorated officer of the United States Marine Corps with the rank of Lieutenant General. During his 33 years of active service, McLaughlin was the participant of wars in Pacific, Korea and Vietnam. He was taken prisoner during Korean War and spent almost three years in Chinese captivity. McLaughlin finished his career as Commanding General of Fleet Marine Force, Pacific.

Early years and World War II
John N. McLaughlin was born on September 21, 1918 in Charleston, South Carolina, but his family moved to Savannah, Georgia when he was four years old. McLaughlin later attended the Benedictine Military School there and following his graduation in 1936, he enrolled the Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. He also entered the Georgia National Guard at the same time.

Upon his graduation in June 1941 with Bachelor of Arts degree, McLaughlin entered the Marine Corps service and was assigned to the Officer Candidates School at Marine Barracks Quantico, Virginia. He completed the five months course and was commissioned Second lieutenant on November 1, 1941. He was subsequently attached to Company "C", 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment under famous Lieutenant colonel Merritt "Red Mike" Edson at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

His regiment sailed to the Southwest Pacific, arriving to Wellington, New Zealand during June 14, 1942. The 5th Marines spent next two months with preparations for combat deployment, which occurred at the beginning of August 1942 with amphibious landing on Guadalcanal. McLaughlin later took part in actions along the Matanikau River and was promoted to the rank of First lieutenant in October 1942. However the 5th Marines took heavy casualties and were ordered to Australia on December 9th of that year for rest and refit. Meanwhile, McLaughlin was promoted to the rank of Captain in February 1943 and assumed command of "C" Company.

While in Australia, a lot of his men under his command recuperated from Malaria and other wounds and McLaughlin oversaw the training of his company and preparations for next amphibious operation. At the end of September 1943, the 5th Marines left Australia and sailed for Milne Bay, New Guinea for advanced training, emphasizing shore-to-shore operations and utilizing terrain closely resembling that on New Britain.

The 5th Marines were ordered to Cape Gloucester on December 29th, with the mission to capture a large Japanese airdrome. After the one airfield was captured at the end of December, 5th Marines began the chasing of retreating Japanese units. McLaughlin and his company proceed to the Natamo Point and overran enemy's positions. He then took part in the combats in the vicinity of Mount Schleuther and helped to clear the village Talasea at the beginning of March 1944. McLaughlin subsequently received Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V" for his leadership during the New Britain campaign.

After the area was declated secured, McLaughlin and his battalion moved to Pavuvu Island at the beginning of May 1944. After next several months of training duties, the 5th Marines were designated landing force for upcoming Peleliu operation. Captain McLaughlin landed with his company on September 15, 1944 and during the first days of combats, "C" Company repelled two Japanese tank-infantry counterattacks, destroying several tanks and killing supporting infantry. During the next two weeks, McLaughlin and his company repeatedly assaulted heavily fortified enemy's positions along the Peleliu Airfield and after four days of intensive fighting, he bravely led his company in an assault under heavy fire to repulse several night counterattacks in which two enemy machine guns were captured, numerous Japanese killed and many tanks put out of action. For his gallantry in action, McLaughlin was decorated with Silver Star.

At the end of October 1944, 5th Marines were ordered back to Pavuvu for rest and refit. McLaughlin spent next four weeks there and returned to the United States at the beginning of December of that year. After brief leave for Christmas, McLaughlin reported for duty at the staff of Marine Corps Schools Quantico under his old 1st Marine Division Commander, Major general William H. Rupertus. While served in that capacity, McLaughlin was promoted to the rank of Major in February 1945.

Early service
McLaughlin served at Quantico until spring 1948, when he was attached to the course at Army Infantry School at Fort Benning, Georgia. Upon graduation in June 1948, he was ordered to Naval Amphibious Base Coronado, California, where he was attached to the staff of Amphibious Training Command under Brigadier general John T. Walker. While in that capacity, McLaughlin until July 1950, when he was ordered to the Korean battlefield.

As an officer with a lot of experiences in Amphibious warfare matters, McLaughlin was attached to the Mobile Training Team Able under Colonel Edward H. Forney and ordered to Japan in January 1950. His duty was to train U.S. occupation forces of amphibious training. In July 1950, he was appointed an Advisor with 5th Cavalry Regiment and took part in the amphibious landing at P'ohang-dong during August 1950.

Chinese captivity
McLaughlin was later appointed Assistant to Operations Officer of X Army Corps under Lieutenant general Edward Almond and 1st Marine Division Liaison officer. During the Chosin Reservoir Campaign at the end of November 1950, McLaughlin was attached to the column of Task Force Drysdale which traveled to Hagaru-ri under the command of Lieutenant colonel Arthur A. Chidester on November 29, 1950. The column was ambushed by Chinese People's Liberation Army and divided into the several parts.

Although McLaughlin was originally just a passenger, he assumed command of his part of the column as a senior officer present. Because of the attacks from every direction, he quickly realized they are surrounded. Despite the hopelessness of his situation, McLaughlin calmed the troops down and ordered them to the proper places, where they could give the most firepower. He hoped the allied reinforcements will arrive at the dawn, but it soon became obvious, that's not gonna happened. With no communication with other allied troops, almost no ammunition and lot of wounded men, McLaughlin decided to negotiate the terms of surrender. He demanded that his wounded men will be medically treated and handed over to the nearest american post. Although chinese commander agreed, McLaughlin intentionally delayed the surrender to allow more men slip out of the perimeter undetected.

Major McLaughlin surrendered on November 30, 1950 and subsequently was forced to march with other marines through freeze weather to the hills, where they were interrogated. Some of the wounded were moved to the nearby hut by the order of Chinese commander and later found by the U.S. forces. The rest of the woundeds, who were able to walk, were not treated by their captors but only captured U.S. Medical personnel provided some basic treatment.

They marched several days with minimum of food and water, in freezy wind and snow. Several marines died of pneumonia and also malnutrition during the exhausting four days march. McLaughlin and his group of Marines, Army soldiers and several british commandos subsequently reached the Korean farmhouse somewhere in Chagang Province and stayed there until December 22nd. Subsequently they marched for another four days until they reached the town of Kanggye in North Korea on December 26th.

Not far from the town, they were all placed to prisoner camp, which was also referred as Kanggye. During the next days, another groups of POW came to the camp and total number of prisoner was about 290. All prisoner struggled with the lack of food and diseases and were continuously exposed to the communist indoctrination. McLaughlin began with establishing of the communication between scattered groups of prisoners. He issued instructions through non-commissioned officers in order to stick together and raise morale. The communist indoctrination process lasted until the beginning of March 1951, when officers were gathered and sent Pyoktong to the Prisoner camp for Officers referred as Camp 5. Under harsh conditions, with the absence of anything, prisoners died in large numbers. Even McLaughlin was junior to some officers from the Army or Air Force at the camp, he was elected to represent them. Chinese administration of the camp quickly recognized him as the leader and concentrated their pressures on him. They offered him better living conditions and food if he would co-operate in propaganda matters. When refused, Chinese threatened him with death and beat him. During July 1951, his family, which didn't know nothing about him since November 1950, was informed that McLaughlin is still alive.

McLaughlin was transferred with some other officers to the Camp 2 at Pu-Chong-Ni at the end of November 1951. Toward the end of the year, Chinese camp commander ordered all U.N. prisoners to send a New years greetings to communist general Peng Dehuai, who commanded all chinese troops in North Korea at the time. McLaughlin refused to do so and organized Marine resistance within the camp prisoners. Chinese camp commander ordered "court-martial" of all leaders. As a punishment, McLaughlin was sentenced to four months of solitary confinement.

During McLaughlin absence, morale within Marine officers was at very low state and also no discipline. In May 1952, Lieutenant colonel William G. Thrash arrived to the camp and became the senior Marine officer. He succeeded McLaughlin, who was still in solitary confinement and restored the discipline and morale. Meanwhile McLaughlin was released from his custody and became Second-in-command. Unfortunatelly the Chinese had no understanding for Thrash's actions and put him to the solitary confinement in September 1952. He was condemned to eight months in the "hole" and McLaughlin became leader of all marines again.

When the P.O.W. Olympics has been established at the end of November 1952, McLaughlin was selected for the Camp 2 Athletic team. Even if he opposed the idea of P.O.W. Olympics, he competed and his skill as an athlete helped restore the prestige of the officers torn down by the enemy's propaganda.

In March 1953, Chinese ordered the election of Camp Chairman, which will be Marine officer responsible for the cooking, police, recreation, and procurement of rations and fuel; in addition to which he was also responsible for the conduct of all POW's in camp. McLaughlin was elected to that capacity and during next months, he established athletic and physical conditioning program, which contributed greatly to morale.

As a chairman, McLaughlin was sent to the POW conference in Pyoktong during May 1953. While on that conference, McLaughlin confronted general General Wang Yang Kung, Commanding General of all Prisoner of War Camps, and demanded better living conditions and cease persecution and imprisonment in solitary confinement of senior officers. As a result of his actions, Lieutenant colonels William G. Thrash and James Carne were release from their solitary cells.

Major McLaughlin was finally released from the captivity on September 5, 1953 as a part of Operation Big Switch, prisoner of war exchange. During the 1010 days of captivity, he suffered beatings, attempted brainwashing, four months of solitary confinement and lost 66 pounds. Lieutenant colonel Thrash, who was repatriated at the same time, subsequently sent report of McLaughlin's actions in prisoner of war camp to the Commandant of the Marine Corps and recommended him for decoration. General Lemuel C. Shepherd Jr. approved his request and McLaughlin was decorated with Legion of Merit.

Later service
Because of his medical condition, McLaughlin was also granted almost four months of medical leave. He was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant colonel in December 1953, with date of rank from July 1, 1951. His new assignment was with the staff of Marine Corps Schools Quantico, which he knew well from his late World War II service.

McLaughlin also assumed command of his World War II, 1st Battalion of 5th Marine Regiment in September 1956. He was promoted to the rank of Colonel on July 1, 1960 and transferred to the staff of United States Sixth Fleet under Vice admiral George W. Anderson. He served in that capacity as Fleet Marine Officer and spent this time in Mediterranean Sea.

During 1961, McLaughlin returned to the United States and was ordered to Washington, D.C., where assumed duties as Marine Corps Aide to the United States Under Secretary of the Navy, Paul B. Fay. McLaughlin's career slowly flourished and he swapped one important assignment for another one. In early 1963, he was appointed Marine Corps Liaison officer in the office of Chief of Naval Operations, where he served under his old superior from Sixth Fleet, Admiral Anderson. He also received newly established Joint Service Commendation Medal for his service in that capacity.

While in Washington, D.C., McLaughlin was ordered to the Senior Course at National War College and subsequently also earned Master's degree in International affairs at George Washington University in July 1965. He subsequently assumed command of 6th Marine Regiment at Camp Lejeune and served in that capacity until the end of December 1965.

McLaughlin subsequently assumed duties as Chief of Staff, 2nd Marine Division under Major general Ormond R. Simpson, but did not went to Vietnam and stayed stateside.

First bigger highlight of his career came on January 10, 1967 when he was promoted to the rank of Brigadier general and appointed Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans at the staff of United States Strike Command under General Theodore J. Conway. He distinguished himself again in this capacity, and received his second Legion of Merit.

Brigadier general McLaughlin finally received orders for Deployment in Vietnam on February 18, 1968 when he was ordered to Danang and assumed duties as Assistant Division Commander, 1st Marine Division under Major general Donn J. Robertson. In this capacity, McLaughlin relieved brigadier general Foster C. LaHue and simultaneously served as commander of Task Force X Ray in the area of Phu Bai Combat Base.

At the end of May 1968, McLaughlin was relieved by Brigadier general George D. Webster and was transferred to Saigon, where he was appointed Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations on the staff of Military Assistance Command, Vietnam under General Creighton Abrams. He succeeded Brigadier general John R. Chaisson in that capacity and was responsible for the planning of the military operations until August 1969. For his service in Vietnam, McLaughlin received Navy Distinguished Service Medal and several Vietnamese decorations.

Upon his return to the United States, McLaughlin was promoted to the rank of Major general on September 3, 1969 and appointed Commanding general of Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, California. In this capacity, he was responsible for the training of new recruits, which served as replacements for marine units overseas and stateside.

During the beginning of March 1973, McLaughlin assumed command of the 4th Marine Division at Camp Pendleton, which served as main ground force of the Marine Corps Reserve. Following one year of service in that capacity, McLaughlin was nominated for the promotion to the rank of Lieutenant general and subsequently promoted on September 1, 1974. His new assignment was the capacity of Chief of Staff, Headquarters Marine Corps under General Robert E. Cushman. In this administrative position, McLaughlin proved great skills and received his third Legion of Merit.

Final assignment came at the beginning of August 1975, when he assumed duties as Commanding General, Fleet Marine Force Pacific with headquarters on Hawaii. He held this largest field command of the Marine Corps until July 1, 1977, when he retired from the active service after 36 years. At his retirement ceremony, McLaughlin was decorated with second Navy Distinguished Service Medal.

Retirement
Following his retirement, McLaughlin settled in Savannah, Georgia with his wife Marilee Hicks McLaughlin (1925-1987). Upon the dead of his wife, he married again and spent the rest of your life with Andrea Adams McLaughlin (1929–2012). McLaughlin struggled with cancer and finally died of heart attack on August 8, 2002. He is buried at Beaufort National Cemetery, South Carolina.

His old friend from the prison camp, Lieutenant general William G. Thrash said:

""General McLaughlin was the best friend I ever had. He was a tower of strength in the camp," said Thrash. "He helped me run the camp. I could not have made it without him. Great leaders are born not made. He was a humble man, but a brilliant man and one of the outstanding officers of the Corps. He leaves a wonderful legacy for all Marines to emulate.""

Decorations
Here is the ribbon bar of Lieutenant General John N. McLaughlin: