John D. McCann

August 13, 2011

Captain John D. McCann, U.S. Coast Guard (Ret.), of Brooks Estates, Jenkins Township, died peacefully Saturday afternoon, August 13, 2011, at the Wesley Village Nursing Facility. His wife is the former Mary Ruth Davis, and his first wife was the late Mary Catharine Carpenter. Captain McCann was born July 10, 1922, in Malden, Mass., a son of Lieutenant Commander John and LilliAnn McCann. He served in the U.S. Coast Guard from 1941 to 1973, and after retirement he served as the Dean of Administration for Keystone College. During World War II, he served afloat on transports and with the Amphibious Forces moving from New Guinea, the Northern Marianas Islands, the Philippines, and finally into Tokyo Bay. During this time, then Ensign McCann received little, if any help, from General MacArthur or Admiral Halsey. During the Korean War, Captain McCann built and operated a LORAN station northwest of Pusan. He and his men served temporarily with the 17th Bomb Wing. In the year 2000, he returned to Korea representing the Coast Guard as a member of the Presidential Mission for ceremonies in connection with the 50th anniversary of that conflict's commencement. He served as Commanding Officer of four vessels. Ashore he served as Executive Aide to two successive Coast Guard Commandants. He served on the faculty of the Coast Guard Academy, was the Chief Director of the Coast Guard Auxiliary, and was the Chief Personnel Officer at Coast Guard Headquarters. He attended City College of New York and was a graduate of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. He held Master's Degrees from the George Washington University and the National War College. Surviving are children, Catharine McCann of Maine, Dr. Barton McCann of Maryland, Michael McCann of Montana, CDR John McCann, USCG (Ret.) of Maine, Donald McCann of Guam, and Mary Lee Schofield of Ohio; step-children, Rev. Susan Davis of New York, Ted Davis of Tunkhannock, Martin Davis of Sciota and Mary Jo Warring of New York; brother-in-law Charles Morris of Colorado; 28 grandchildren; as well as seven great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his first wife Mary; twin brother, Captain Donald J. McCann, USCG (Ret.); sister, Edith; and sister-in-law Ann. The Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday at The Church of St. Maria Goretti, 42 Redwood Dr., Laflin. Interment with full military honors will be held at Arlington National Cemetery. There will be no public calling hours. Arrangements are by the Lawrence E. Young Funeral Home, 418 S. State St., Clarks Summit. For additional information or to sign the online guest book, please visit www.lawrenceeyoungfuneralhome.com . In lieu of flowers, Captain Jack would like you to do a good deed for someone else. He means it.