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The Korean war began on June 25, 1950 and the shooting stopped on July 27, 1953. A peace treaty was never signed, even to this day.
I was drafted into the U.S. Army by President Truman and was ordered to report to Ft. Wayne, Detroit on October 28, 1952. I was honorably discharged on October 27, 1954.
I was assigned to an anti-aircraft battalion in Ft. Bliss Texas and spent nine months there, first basic training that all soldiers must go through, then on all forms of WWII anti-aircraft guns. Following that training, we were the first battalion ever to be trained on a then new, 75 mm anti-aircraft gun with an on board computer and radar. That began my career as an engineer (after graduating from engineering college) when I was discharged. Later in our training on the "Skysweeper" gun I was assigned to a surveillance long range radar. I was never sent to school to learn computers or radar in the service, that came after service. I was given a manual and told to study it and learn it.
During the nine months at Ft. Bliss, we spent more than 50% of that time in the Texas and New Mexico deserts living in a two man pup tent. Winter time the temperature at night were below freezing and during the summer days it was 115 degrees in the shade.
We were sent to Thule Air Base in Northern Greenland to protect the Strategic Air Command (SAC) base with our 75 mm and 90 mm anti-aircraft guns. There were no anti-aircraft missiles invented yet. SAC bases had nuclear laden planes in the air at all times protecting their area of assignment.
At Thule, my job was to operate a small trailer just large enough to hold two chairs, a radar scope and a heater, located 15 miles from the base on the Greenland Ice Cap. Our modular radar was located outside the trailer. Another person and myself would stay there 12 hours each day, rotating on the scope every two hours. To get to the ice cap, a small pickup with driver drove my partner and myself to the trailer. The vehicle would only hold the driver and another person in the cab. The third person rode outside in the truck bed. The temperature was 70 degrees below zero. It was also dark 24 hours per day.
Since we were the first Army battalion stationed there,we rotated out early, seven months instead of 12. I spent the last six month of my service in Oaklawn, Illinois, at a 90 mm anti-aircraft site protecting Midway Airport - the major airport at the time. I was assigned to the van mounted radar, again with only a manual in hand to learn the system. Following my six month duty in Chicago, I was honorably discharged with the rank of Corporal.
Veteran’s memberships include American Legion (Rancho Mirage Post 301) a lifetime member of the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) California Chapter 66, Palm Springs, member of the Navy League and The Desert Veterans Memorial Association. I am a volunteer at the USO, Palm Springs airport Chapter, and specialize in the United Through Reading Program. I am also a member of the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR).
In September 1984, I was appointed to the Selective Service System, as one of Santa Clara County’s representatives. I resigned in 1993 when I moved to Riverside County. In March 2003 I was reappointed to the Selective Service System as one of Riverside County’s representatives.
I continue to serve in that capacity.
I am an electronics engineer, inventor (US Patent No: 3,219,854 for a Linear Actuator and converter), co-inventor of the Fryfogle Portable & Wearable Electrocardiograph recorder –circa 1962-1965, OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturers) sales (computer disk drives), OEM marketer (disk drives), entrepreneur, industry analyst (to the disk drive industry) 25 years as an independent consultant in the disk drive industry, published author (2 business books) and many articles about and for the disk drive industry publications and newspaper columns (non technical).
I started my career as an engineer, designing computer disk drives, switched to sales and marketing then went into consulting business and as industry analyst. During that time I also earned a Ph.D. in Business Administration and turned my Doctoral Project into a best selling business book, "Building Your Business Plan, A Step by Step Approach published by John Wiley & Sons in 1985 (seven printings- still available from Amazon.com). A second book followed in 1992, "The Entrepreneur's Guide to Building a Better Business Plan, also published by John Wiley & Sons and is published in Portuguese in Rio de Janeiro - RJ Brazil). The last 11 of my 25 years as an industry analyst and consultant was spent writing, editing, and publishing a weekly, 80 - 125 page report about the disk drive industry. Its readership was primarily senior executives in the disk drive industry.
I was one of nine founders of the disk drive industry's trade association, The International Disk Drive and Equipment Manufacturers (IDEMA), and served for 12 years on its Executive Committee and its Board of Directors including seven years as its Treasurer. At the time of my retirement, IDEMA had more than 500 corporate and individual members, several branches in Asian countries, hosts the largest trade shows and technical conferences in the industry and operates on a multi million-dollar budget. During my 12 years as an active board member, I also co-founded and served (for two years) as its co-editor of Insight, IDEMA's official newsletter/magazine. I also founded its University Committee and served as its Chairman for several years. I officially retired from IDEMA as an Emeritus Board Member in 1997.
I am a member of the Palm Springs Writers Guild and have been since the early 1990’s. I was also a member of Jack London’s California Writers Club, Santa Clara, California chapter for a number of years when I lived in Northern California.
As a 16 year resident of San Marino Estates (66 homes) in Rancho Mirage, I served on its Homeowners Association’s Board of Directors, for 10 years, most of those years as President. I was a volunteer instructor at the Braille Institute, Rancho Mirage for two years.
During January 2006, I completed two weeks volunteer training (including CPR and First Aid) at Joshua Tree National Park. As a volunteer ranger, I rove the campgrounds and trails to inform park visitors of the parks activities and to help them enjoy the park and to help keep them safe. I also wrote the Rover training manual and recently participated in the training of six new Rovers. I also served two years on Joshua Tree National Park Association's, Board of Directors.
Over the past eight years, I attended three of the Veteran Workshops held at the Mizell and Palm Desert Senior Centers and used the information gained from these meetings, to apply for and receive, my own disability rating. I also helped many of my friends, neighbors and others file and receive theirs as well.
I do love to travel and I was fortunate enough to have a career that demanded a lot of it, domestic and international. I was also fortunate that my wife (who worked with me during my last 25 years as a consultant and industry analyst - we have enjoyed a lot of togetherness during our 53 years of marriage) and often times our two children too, traveled along with me/us.
My philosophy on life is based on three simple things: (A) The Golden Rule -Do onto others as you would have them do onto you - be kind to others - it's easy and doesn't cost anything, (B) The Power of Positive Thinking - It really works and staves off ulcers too, (C) Smile a lot and enjoy life to the utmost - live until you die - you only have the moment.
(Jack) McLaughlin, Ph.D.
Please contact Mary Helen Kelly
760.340.1010