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Mc Lawhorn,
Herman H. |
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Herman H. Mc Lawhorn was
born at Kinston, North Carolina, May 19, 1929. He attended Contentnea Elementary
School and Hookerton High School. After returning from Korea, he returned to
farming. In 1956, he was employed by Serv-Air, Inc. as a flight dispatcher.
Serv-Air, Inc. was an Air Force training school for pilots and operated
Stallings Air Force Base located at Kinston, North Carolina. Upon the
termination of Serv-Air's contract with the Air Force, the base closed. Herman
entered East Carolina College in 1958 and majored in Accounting. He completed
his studies in 1962. He then began working as a Staff Accountant for Simon
Sitterson, CPA. After seventeen years, he was hired by a client to be Controller
for Robert Hill Construction Company, Neil Realty Company and Neil Medical
Group, Inc. The term lasted for twenty-two years. He retired in 2001.
He is married to Bonnie Hall Mc Lawhorn.
They have three daughters, two sons and ten grandchildren, and three
great-granddaughters.
LTC Mc Lawhorn was drafted into the Army in
January 10, 1951. He was sent to Camp Breckinridge, Kentucky. He was assigned to
Company H, 53rd Airborne Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division. After
sixteen weeks of Infantry Basic and Advance Infantry training, he was assigned
to eight weeks of Infantry Leadership School. Upon graduation, he was promoted
to PFC and dispatched to the Far East. He arrived in Republic of Korea on August
14, 1951 and was assigned to Company G,
Fifth Regimental Combat Team.
During the next five months, The Fifth
Regimental Combat Team, as part of the 24th Infantry and 40th Infantry
Divisions, was engaged in combat for one hundred thirty days. On October 7,
1951, the 5th RCT relieved the 31st Infantry Regiment near Champg'yong'dong,
North Korea. After several weeks of intense fighting, the enemy was pushed
further into North Korea. Near the village of Kumson, hill 770 was captured. The
5th RCT stayed there through the winter (sometimes the temperature dropped to
forty degrees below zero) On February 24, 1952, the 5th RCT was relieved by
224th Regiment of 40th Infantry Division. Mc Lawhorn held the positions of
Automatic Rifleman to Squad Leader during that time.
The 5th RCT was then dispatched to the
United Nations Prisoner of War Compound located at Koje-do Island off the tip to
South Korea. During the stay, the RCT quelled three riots by the North Korean
prisoners. After two months the RCT returned to Inje Valley. Mc Lawhorn was
promoted to Corporal in November of 1951 and was promoted to Sergeant January of
1952. On June 5, 1952, he return trip to the United States arriving at Seattle
on July 4, 1952. He was assigned to the Separation Center at Fort Jackson, South
Carolina for two months. On October 10, 1952 he was released from active duty
and assigned to the Army Reserve.
On June 2, 1955, he
received a direct appointment as a Second Lieutenant in the North Carolina Army
National Guard. Over the next twenty-seven years, he held numerous assignments.
Most notable were Battery Commander, Battery A 690th Field Artillery Battalion,
Executive Officer, 690th Maintenance Battalion and Battalion Commander 730th
Maintenance Battalion. He retired on June 27, 1982 with rank of Lieutenant
Colonel. He has a total of thirty-one years of military service.
LTC Mc Lawhorn is a
graduate of the Field Artillery Officer Basic Course, the Infantry Officer Basic
Course, the Ordinance Officer Mobilization Advanced Course and the Command and
General Staff College.
Awards include the Combat Infantry Badge,
Bronze Star Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Army Reserve
Component Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Korean Service Medal, Armed
Forces Reserve Medal, United Nations Service Medal, Republic of Korea Service
Medal, and Korean Presidential Unit Citation. North Carolina Meritorious Service
Medal, North Carolina Commendation Medal, North Carolina Meritorious Unit
Citation and the North Carolina Distinguished Unit Citation.
He is a life member of
the Combat Infantryman's Association, The Twenty-fourth Infantry Division
Association, The Reserve Officers Association, The American Legion, The Veterans
of Foreign Wars, The National Guard Association of the United States and The
North Carolina National Guard Association. He is also a member of the Korean War
Veterans Association and the Fifth Regimental Combat Team Association and an
associate member of chapter 892 Vietnam Veterans of America. He has served as
Post Commander of American Legion Post # 43 (1999-2000) and Chairperson of
Salute! A Tribute to America's Veterans for the years 2003 & 2004. In December
2005, he accepted the position as Curator of the
Walk of Honor.
Herman H. Mc Lawhorn's
Fire
and Rescue service is present on the 911 webpage.