Pentagon Inducts Vietnam Vet, Medal of Honor Recipient James McCloughan into Hall of Heroes

WASHINGTON, DC – Defense Secretary James Mattis and Army leaders inducted Vietnam veteran Army Spc. 5 James C. McCloughan into the Pentagon Hall of Heroes in a standing-room only ceremony on Tuesday.

McCloughan, 71, became the newest recipient of the Medal of Honor in a White House ceremony on Monday that recognized him for his heroic actions over 48 hours of heavy combat in the sweltering fields of South Vietnam in May 1969.

McCloughan was born in South Haven, Michigan. At 5’5″ and 130 lb., he was a high school star athlete and a college wrestler. He had received a Bachelor’s degree in sociology and was looking forward to teaching and coaching.

But fate had other plans for him.

He was drafted in 1968, becoming a medic for 2nd Platoon, Company C, 3rd Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 196th Infantry Brigade, Americal Division in the U.S. Army.

A year later, he found himself with 88 other men of the Charlie Company hurtling out of helicopters to assault Nui Yon Hill. The men found themselves in the fight of their lives, outnumbered by the enemy 28 to 1.

“Every one of those men was a hero in their own right,” Army Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Milley.

Acting Army Secretary Robert Speer said McCloughan was wounded the first day and wounded twice the next day, but he refused to be evacuated.

McCloughan, who was known as “Doc” to his men, refused to leave until he tended to the wounds of his men. The other medic, Pfc. Daniel J. Shea, had already been killed.

McCloughan ran 100 meters across open fire to pick up one of his wounded men. He also volunteered to serve as a beacon for a resupply drop and also “for enemy fire,” Mattis noted.

Mattis noted that McCloughan saved ten members of his company, noting that he only gets emotional when he talks about having to leave his battle buddies.

“He’s a comrade in arms who reminds us what it’s all about,” he said.

McCloughan remembers the final phase of an attack on Nui Yon Hill, the enemy – numbering 1,500 to 2,000 North Vietnamese Army forces and about 700 Vietcong – looked like “lava” flowing towards them.

“With our backs against the wall, we fought for each other, until the enemy was beaten and went away,” he said.

He said he made a pact with God on the battlefield.

He had realized he had not told his father that he loved him since he was a child. If he lived, he told God, he would tell his father that he loved him as soon as he saw him.

When he landed in Chicago, and as soon as he saw his father, he made good on his promise and said he did so every time he could until his father died in 1991 at the age of 68.

At the ceremony, he thanked his wife Cherie, his family, and for the “angels” watching the ceremony from above: his parents.

“Thank you God for making them my parents, and giving them a front row seat.”

McCloughan said that, without his brothers in arms, he would not be receiving the Medal of Honor.

“This medal is about love. Love deep in the soul of the Charlie Tiger brothers,” he said.

Milley also recognized members of the Charlie Company who served alongside McCloughan, asking those present at the ceremony to stand. They then received a standing ovation.

“Today, you are a hero,” he told McCloughan. “But you are all our heroes.”