Justin "Gene" McCarthy

1936 - 2019

Gene was born September 17, 1936 in Medford, MA, to Justin and Audrey McCarthy, and passed away January 3, 2019. He began his military career as a private in the 10th Infantry Division. Taking advantage of every opportunity the Army offered, he graduated from Officer Candidate School, became both Airborne and Special Forces qualified, and gained a college degree from Hampton University. He met Alice Mitchell during an assignment at Fort Dix, and six months later they were married on October 31, 1959. His Army career took him to various posts in the U.S., Germany, Korea, and two combat tours to Vietnam – one with 5th Special Forces Group and one with MACV-SOG. In Vietnam, (67-68), he commanded II Corps Mike Force and his command included many indigenous Montagnard soldiers. Gene had a gift for languages including German, Vietnamese and Hausa. Of course, the most important phrase he learned was, "Do not shoot, I am your friend". Gene retired after 22 years of service, achieving the rank of Lt. Colonel, and resided in Hampton, VA. He then worked as a civilian for the Army Training Support Center at Fort Eustis, as a training specialist on the MILES fielding team. He was active in the Bunker Hill Monument Association, Knights of Columbus, VFW, American Legion, Special Operations Association and Special Forces Association, as well as helping Montagnard friends resettle in the area. He could fix anything, never believing in paying someone else to do something that either he, his daughters, or sons-in-law could do. He taught his daughters to be confident, independent, and community service oriented by setting the example during his military career, his marriage, and constantly supporting their endeavors. He is preceded in death by his parents, his wife, and his beloved granddaughter Colleen Burke. He is survived by his daughters and sons-in-law; Cathy and Dan Burke, Patti and Tim Glynn, Erin and Don Gray, and Maureen McCarthy; his six grandchildren, Kelly Glynn Zeh, Patrick Glynn, Justin Burke, Daniel Burke, Donald Gray, and Mary Gray, and three great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his sisters and their families; Lois Fay, Joyce Gilbert, Frances Ahlstrom, and Karen Stewart.The family will receive friends at R. Hayden Smith Funeral Home, Hampton, VA, on Monday, January 7 from 4 to 7 pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be at St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church at 11 am on Tuesday, January 8. Burial will follow at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Special Forces Association Scholarship Fund, PO Box 41436, Fayetteville, NC 28309-1436.