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| Harold E. McCoy
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| NO. 17839 • 8 January 1928 - 19 April 1975 |
| Died in Bethesda, MD - Interred in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA
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TWENTY-FIVE YEARS have passed since the death of Harold Eugene
"Real" McCoy, husband of
Evelyn and father of
Karen,
Michael, and Patrick. His eight-year
battle with cancer ended at the National Institute ofHealth (NIH), Bethesda,
Maryland. Due to the nature of his illness, and considering his assignmentsin Viet Nam, his death was officially
attributed to exposure to Agent Orange.
Real
was a native of Canton, OH, the son of Harry A. and Karin McCoy. Early on, he demonstrated
natural leadership abilities, both in academics and in athletics. In high school, he was a member of the National Honor
Society, the band, and the Choral Society, and was a class officer all four years, culminating with his election
as president of the senior class. An outstanding athlete for the Canton McKinley Bulldogs, he lettered in football,
basketball, and track. His high jump record endured for more than 20 years, but
his real love was football. He carried that love
with him when he joined the Corps in the summer of 1946.
The’50 Howitzer quotes Real,
"I would rather be bald than red-headed." The truth is, his red hair was symbolic of the intense competitiveness and
determination to succeed that was a
driving force in his life. The love ofsports he brought to the Academy included
track his Plebe year, golf his Yearling
year and, of course, football Yearling
and Cow years. Real was proud that he was able to
play against "the greatest team in the nation" every week. Will Henn remembered, "My bond with
Real was
B-Squad
football. We were a high-spirited bunch of “wannabees,”
playing football more for the joy of the game than any glory. We were the scout
team, learning new plays and formations
every week to prepare the A-Squad for their Saturday opponents. The B-Squad
experience built a
very special camaraderie. Real McCoy was a B-Squad
player, a teammate warmly remembered."
According
to Ross Franklin, Real was the "happiest guy
in D-1." His roommate, Walt Vannoy, describes Real as
"consistently cheerful with a positive attitude and an abundance of good humor. He often proclaimed,
'I am the luckiest guy in the world!' He
lived that belief in his good fortune,
and his optimistic outlook served him well throughout
his life. Real was a talented athlete and, befitting
his red hair, he was a fiery competitor - courageous and loyal - essential
elements of character to be a true friend, and that he was. Nevertheless, rumor
has it that, despite the fact he was a member of the Cadet Choir all four
years, he tried to convince everyone he was Jewish so he could sleep in on
Sunday mornings. He did not succeed, but sleeping in on Sundays did became a
lifelong goal for Real!
After graduation, Real received pilot training at Perrin
AFB, TX, where he met Evelyn, and at Williams AFB, AZ. After a tour of duty at Tyndall AFB, FL,
Real attended Purdue University, where he earned an MS in civil engineering in
1956. He served three years as Base Civil Engineer, Burtonwood, England, then
attended CGSC at Ft. Leavenworth, KS. He became Civil Engineer for the DEW Line
and then the BMEWS O&M contracts. During 1963-65, he served as Chief
of Flight Operations at Stewart AFB, NY, followed by a tour as Assistant
Director, Airlift Control Center, Tan Son Nhut AB, Viet Nam.
Real's final Active Duty assignment, during 1966-72,
was to the Office of the Director of Civil Engineering, Headquarters, USAF. He
retired in 1972, due to disability, as a command pilot with approximately 4,000
hours of flying time.
After retiring, Real worked as a principal staff
engineer for Computer Sciences Corporation until a week before his death.
During the eight-year course of his illness, he was an outpatient at NIH.
Throughout that time, he made many friends among the doctors, nurses, and other
patients. He continued to be active, working most of the time and playing golf
whenever it was possible.
Real was a very proud man. He was especially proud of
his children - Mike, a University of Virginia football player; Patrick,
an outstanding swimmer; and Karen, such a loving daughter. He would also have
been proud of his grandsons - Silas, Chris, and Jeff Carleton.
Throughout his protracted and pain-filled illness,
Real maintained his positive attitude, sense of humor, and smiling, friendly
manner. He left us with memories of a man who lived a life devoted to the
service of his country and his family. Ross Franklin says the Real he remembers
is described in Philippians 2:14-15: "Do everything without
questioning or complaining, that you may be blameless in the midst of a crooked
and depraved generation among whom you shine like stars in the sky."
Real's star will continue to shine through his children,
grandchildren, and all the others whose lives he touched. We can all join in
saying to him, "Well done. Be thou at peace.
- Evelyn McCoy Sharp and classmates
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USMA 1950