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SUBJ/DEATH OF SERGEANT MAJOR THOMAS J. MCHUGH//
RMKS/1.  IT IS WITH HEAVY HEART THAT I ANNOUNCE THE DEATH OF OUR
THIRD SERGEANT MAJOR OF THE MARINE CORPS, SERGEANT MAJOR THOMAS J.
MCHUGH.  HE PASSED AWAY MONDAY, 21 FEBRUARY, AT THE ONSLOW MEMORIAL
HOSPITAL IN JACKSONVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA.  BORN 23 DECEMBER 1919 IN
NEW YORK CITY, HE WAS 80 YEARS OLD.
2.  SERGEANT MAJOR MCHUGH ENLISTED IN THE MARINE CORPS RESERVE IN
OCTOBER 1938 AND WAS CALLED TO EXTENDED ACTIVE DUTY IN NOVEMBER
1940.  DURING WORLD WAR II, HE WAS ATTACHED TO THE 1ST MARINE
DIVISION AND TOOK PART IN THE GUADALCANAL, CAPE GLOUCESTER, AND
PELELIU CAMPAIGNS, RISING TO THE RANK OF GUNNERY SERGEANT.  HE WAS
AWARDED THE PURPLE HEART FOR WOUNDS SUFFERED IN THE PELELIU
OPERATION.  AT THE OUTBREAK OF HOSTILITIES IN KOREA,
SERGEANT MAJOR MCHUGH TOOK PART IN COMBAT OPERATIONS WITH THE 1ST
MARINE BRIGADE AND 1ST MARINE DIVISION.  HE SERVED AS THE
FIRST SERGEANT, COMPANY H, 3RD BATTALION, 5TH MARINES DURING THE
PUSAN PERIMETER, INCHON-SEOUL, AND CHOSIN RESERVOIR CAMPAIGNS.
3.  SERGEANT MAJOR MCHUGH ASSUMED THE DUTIES AS THE THIRD
SERGEANT MAJOR OF THE MARINE CORPS IN JUNE 1962.  AT THE CONCLUSION
OF HIS TOUR IN 1965 AND AS THE WAR IN VIETNAM WAS INTENSIFYING,
SERGEANT MAJOR MCHUGH CONTINUED TO SERVE OUR CORPS AND COUNTRY FOR
ANOTHER FIVE YEARS, IN OKINAWA, JAPAN AND IN THE REPUBLIC OF
VIETNAM.  HE TRANSFERRED TO THE FLEET MARINE CORPS RESERVE ON
1 DECEMBER 1970.
4.  SERGEANT MAJOR MCHUGH IS SURVIVED BY HIS WIFE DORIS RIFFEL
MCHUGH OF JACKSONVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA; HIS THREE DAUGHTERS PATRICIA
MILLER OF WILMINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA, MARGARET GILLARD OF
VICTORVILLE, CALIFORNIA, AND KATHLEEN DOLAN OF WILMINGTON, NORTH
CAROLINA; HIS SON THOMAS MCHUGH OF RALEIGH, NORTH CARLONIA; AND FIVE
GRAND CHILDREN.
5.  SERGEANT MAJOR MCHUGH, A TRUE WARRIOR AND LEADER OF MARINES WILL
BE GREATLY MISSED.  DIANE'S AND MY THOUGHTS, PRAYERS, AND DEEPEST
SYMPATHIES, ALONG WITH THOSE OF OUR ENTIRE CORPS, GO OUT TO HIS
FAMILY DURING THIS DIFFICULT TIME.
6.  J. L. JONES, COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS.//
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