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During the battle, 17 men were lost to enemy fire, and many more were wounded, he said. Over the 48-hour battle, McCloughan risked his life on nine separate occasions and is credited with personally saving the lives of 10 members of his company.

Returning to his dream job. McCloughan had graduated in June 1968 from Olivet College in Michigan, with a degree in sociology and a teaching certificate. He received an offer to teach and coach football at South Haven High School in South Haven, Michigan, the town where he was born. It was his dream job, he said.

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Shortly after accepting the position, he received a draft notice. He entered the Army on August 29, 1968, putting his teaching and coaching plans on hold.

In 1970, he returned home and was reaccepted at South Haven High School, where for 40 years he taught psychology, sociology, and geography. He also coached football, wrestling and baseball.

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McCloughan was inducted into the Michigan High School Coaches Association Hall of Fame, Michigan High School Football Association Coaches Hall of Fame, the Michigan High School Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame, and the Olivet College Athletic Hall of Fame.

Legislation and the MOH. By regulation, Medal of Honor recipients must be honored within five years of the act of heroism justifying the award. The legislation passed by Sens. Stabenow and Peters and by Rep. Upton waived the five-year requirement and made it possible for the president to award the Medal of Honor to McCloughan.

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Then-Pfc. McCloughan was highly decorated, receiving the Combat Medical Badge, two Purple Hearts, two Bronze Stars with “V” device for valor, the U. S. Army Valorous Unit Citation, the National Defense Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal with three battle stars, the Vietnam Campaign Medal, the Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with palms and one oak leaf cluster, and the M16 Expert Rifle Badge. Before his enlistment was completed, he had risen to the rank of Specialist (Spc) 5.

Now he will add one more to his impressive list of awards, our country’s highest, the Congressional Medal of Honor.

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Jon Harris is a former Army NCO, civilian law enforcement officer, and defense contractor with over 30 years in the law enforcement community. He is an OpsLens contributor and holds a B.S. in government and politics and an M.S. in criminal justice. This OpsLens article is used by permission. 

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