VIEW ALL PHOTOS (2)
HONORED ON PANEL 1E, LINE 26 OF THE WALL
JOHN HOWARD MCCLEAN
WALL NAME
JOHN H MCCLEAN
PANEL / LINE
1E/26
DATE OF BIRTH
CASUALTY PROVINCE
DATE OF CASUALTY
HOME OF RECORD
COUNTY OF RECORD
STATE
BRANCH OF SERVICE
RANK
REMEMBRANCES
LEFT FOR JOHN HOWARD MCCLEAN
POSTED ON 6.29.2023
POSTED BY: John Fabris
honoring you.....
Say not in grief he is no more, but live in thankfulness that he was.
POSTED ON 8.16.2020
POSTED BY: A Grateful Vietnam Vet
Distinguished Flying Cross Award
Captain John H. McClean was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for heroism and extraordinary achievement while engaged in aerial flight. He served as a Pilot, Tactical Aircraft, and was assigned to 1ST AIR COMMANDO SQDN, 34TH TAC GROUP, 13TH AF.
See https://airforce.togetherweserved.com/
See https://airforce.togetherweserved.com/
POSTED ON 7.30.2020
POSTED BY: Lucy Micik
Thank You
Dear Captain John McClean, Thank you for your service as a Tactical Aircraft Pilot. Your 57th anniversary is soon, sad. Saying thank you isn't enough, but it is from the heart. Time passes quickly, but our world needs help. Please watch over America, it stills needs your strength, courage, guidance and faithfulness. Rest in peace with the angels.
POSTED ON 5.1.2016
POSTED BY: [email protected]
Final Mission of CAPT John H. McClean
POSTED ON 10.28.2014
POSTED BY: Susan
To Jerry, son of Capt. John McClean
Dear Jerry,
It's been almost twelve years since you posted your beautiful tribute to your parents; yet, I am hoping you will return to this page one day to find this message. I only met you and your brothers once, and that was at a getting-to-know-each-other dinner just before your dad and my husband, Skip Bedal, left for their tour in Vietnam. Our daughter, Sheryl Jo, was a year-and-a-half, and I was pregnant with Leigh-Ann, who was born three months after your dad and Skip were killed.
I wanted you to know how pleased Skip was to have your dad as his flying partner. He had expressed that your dad was "the best" when it came to flying that dated WWII B-26 and that he felt completely safe and comfortable - they made a good team. I can just imagine that they were both pretty excited to be the first to take up that newly refurbished, just like brand-new, old bird.
I was in Ft. Walton Beach a couple of years ago and met briefly with your mother. We never really got to know each other since upon arriving at Hurlburt Field I'd been fighting dreadful early-pregnancy sickness and then was off to California to await Skip's return. So, It was good to finally visit after so many years and to share how one instant changed both of our lives forever. It was at this time that your mother said to me, "You do know that Skip is buried in New York, too." I was so taken aside by this that I said, "Yes." In fact, I didn't know how to tell her I didn't know, as I had only been told that it was advisable not to view the remains. it never occurred to me or the family that the bodies had been co-mingled in the accident since we had a casket and "a" body. This is very hard to talk about in a public forum, but I'm doing it because I think you and your brothers should know that the other site of your father's burial is with Skip at Pierce Brothers Memorial Park, North Hollywood, California. I had asked both cemeteries to add the other's name to their records, but because of government regulations they require documentation that was never provided or mentioned in 1963.
Also, unlike your mother, we here in California were led to believe that the plane was shot down; it wasn't until almost 40 years later that I suspected differently after reading a posting on the internet that said the plane had lost its wing, which turned out to be true. Skip's folks died never knowing the truth, and I was angry. I had never been really angry before because I knew that Skip loved what he was doing; was proud of being a member of the 1st Air Commando Group; and felt that what he was doing was important and right for our country. As you know, this was before the protesting and public awareness.
In case you haven't see this internet posting, it tells of the 1st Air Commando's 1963 presence in Vietnam when your dad was there and even mentions him by name:
http://milmag.com/2010/02/1st-air-commando-group-—-viet-nam-1963/
Jerry, know that I was thrilled to see your posting and to hear of your mother's successful redirection - a remarkable and brave lady. And, perhaps you will see this and make contact. I would be delighted to hear from you.
Susan
Oct. 28, 2014
It's been almost twelve years since you posted your beautiful tribute to your parents; yet, I am hoping you will return to this page one day to find this message. I only met you and your brothers once, and that was at a getting-to-know-each-other dinner just before your dad and my husband, Skip Bedal, left for their tour in Vietnam. Our daughter, Sheryl Jo, was a year-and-a-half, and I was pregnant with Leigh-Ann, who was born three months after your dad and Skip were killed.
I wanted you to know how pleased Skip was to have your dad as his flying partner. He had expressed that your dad was "the best" when it came to flying that dated WWII B-26 and that he felt completely safe and comfortable - they made a good team. I can just imagine that they were both pretty excited to be the first to take up that newly refurbished, just like brand-new, old bird.
I was in Ft. Walton Beach a couple of years ago and met briefly with your mother. We never really got to know each other since upon arriving at Hurlburt Field I'd been fighting dreadful early-pregnancy sickness and then was off to California to await Skip's return. So, It was good to finally visit after so many years and to share how one instant changed both of our lives forever. It was at this time that your mother said to me, "You do know that Skip is buried in New York, too." I was so taken aside by this that I said, "Yes." In fact, I didn't know how to tell her I didn't know, as I had only been told that it was advisable not to view the remains. it never occurred to me or the family that the bodies had been co-mingled in the accident since we had a casket and "a" body. This is very hard to talk about in a public forum, but I'm doing it because I think you and your brothers should know that the other site of your father's burial is with Skip at Pierce Brothers Memorial Park, North Hollywood, California. I had asked both cemeteries to add the other's name to their records, but because of government regulations they require documentation that was never provided or mentioned in 1963.
Also, unlike your mother, we here in California were led to believe that the plane was shot down; it wasn't until almost 40 years later that I suspected differently after reading a posting on the internet that said the plane had lost its wing, which turned out to be true. Skip's folks died never knowing the truth, and I was angry. I had never been really angry before because I knew that Skip loved what he was doing; was proud of being a member of the 1st Air Commando Group; and felt that what he was doing was important and right for our country. As you know, this was before the protesting and public awareness.
In case you haven't see this internet posting, it tells of the 1st Air Commando's 1963 presence in Vietnam when your dad was there and even mentions him by name:
http://milmag.com/2010/02/1st-air-commando-group-—-viet-nam-1963/
Jerry, know that I was thrilled to see your posting and to hear of your mother's successful redirection - a remarkable and brave lady. And, perhaps you will see this and make contact. I would be delighted to hear from you.
Susan
Oct. 28, 2014