|
| Melville
J. Lougheed |
| NO.
17981 • 28 Dec 1928 – 21 Jun 2003
|
Died
in Dallas, TX
Interred in Restland Cemetery, Dallas, TX |
Melville John Lougheed, known as "Jack,” was born in
Jamestown, ND, to Melville John and Johanna Middelman Lougheed.
Jack's mother was from the Netherlands, having immigrated to the
United States with her mother, four sisters, and two brothers. They
had come to North Dakota to take advantage of land offered by the
state government. Jack's father met Johanna in Jamestown, and that
is where they were married. On the occasion of Jack's birth, a relative
remarked how proud they were to have a son born in the United States.
Jack lived in Jamestown and attended the public schools there until
14 Jun 1945, when he enlisted in the Army Specialized Training Program
and reported for duty at South Dakota State College. He subsequently
sought and received an appointment to West Point from Senator Milton
Young. In December of 1945, Jack was called to active duty and ordered
to report to Ft. Snelling, MN. Afterwards, he spent several months
at Amherst College, Amherst, MA, attending the Academy preparatory
training conducted there. In March 1946 he reported for duty at
Ft. Benning, GA, but was discharged from the Army on 25 Jun 1946,
just prior to reporting as a new cadet at West Point on 1 Jul 1946
as a member of the Class of 1950.
Jack,s familiarity with the military helped him take cadet life
in stride. A true son of the West, he was known to his classmates
as someone who was always ready to extol the virtues of North Dakota
and his hometown of Jamestown. His fellow cadets also regarded him
as a level headed and self assured cadet who would go on to make
a fine officer. During his cadet years, Jack earned the Expert Rifleman
Badge and participated in the Camera Club and Model Railroad Club
activities which reflected his boyhood experiences on the prairie.
At graduation, Jack was commissioned in the Infantry, and his first
duty station was at Ft. Ord, CA. In 1952, he was sent to Korea,
where he served with the 15th Infantry and the 19th Infantry of
the Eighth Army. In Korea, Jack braved enemy fire while leading
a platoon in an attempt to recover the bodies of two fallen comrades.
As his platoon approached the bodies, small arms fire was concentrated
on them. Exposing himself to this fire, Jack led an assault against
the entrenched enemy force. Only when their ammunition was exhausted
did he give the order to fall back. For these actions, he received
the Silver Star, and as the citation that accompanied the medal
reads, "he supervised this move with such calmness and confidence
that he effected an orderly withdrawal through heavy artillery and
mortar fire with a minimum of casualties.' For his outstanding combat
service in the Korean War, Jack was awarded not only the Silver
Star, but also the Purple Heart and the Combat Infantryman Badge.
Jack's assignments after Korea included service in Japan; Camp Atterbury
IN; and Camp Carson, CO. In January 1954, Jack married his first
wife, Clara M. Van Arsdall, at Camp Atterbury. Three sons and a
daughter were born to Clara and Jack before their marriage eventually
ended in divorce. In July of 1954, after serving as a company commander
with the 24th Infantry Division, 21st Regiment, in Honshu, Japan,
Jack resigned his commission as a first lieutenant.
During his civilian career, Jack held several positions with industry,
including one with managerial responsibilities with the St. Regis
Corporation in 1967. Subsequently, in 1972, he accepted a position
in Dallas, TX, with the United States Government in the Department
of Housing and Urban Development. For HUD, Jack specialized in home
inspections and home appraisals. He retired from this career in
1991.
In 1975, Jack married his second wife, Dorothy Mebane Earle. Following
his retirement, they enjoyed a lifestyle in which travel played
a large part. They took several trips overseas and many trips stateside,
visiting New England and other places, including a visit to Jack's
hometown of Jamestown to celebrate its centennial. Their global
travels included visits to China (where they walked the Great Wall),
Germany, Italy, Scotland, and France. His children, all of whom
lived close to Jack and Dorothy, also helped make their life in
retirement even more enjoyable.
The regard Jack had for his West Point classmates was clearly evidenced
in his submissions to the Class of '50 10 Year Book. These entries
stressed that he and Dorothy would gladly welcome any classmates
to stop and visit with the Lougheeds in Dallas. Unfortunately, this
idyllic existence came to an end in 2003. As a result of heart failure,
death came for Jack on 21 Jun 2003. Dorothy passed away about a
year later.
Jack is survived by three sons, two daughters, seven grandchildren,
and one great grandchild. He will be remembered as a wonderful and
loving parent, grandparent, and great grandparent who, as a loyal
son of West Point, also served his country well in time of war.
|
USMA 1950