# John H. McGee

John Hugh McGee, is a US Army officer who is known for his combat exploits in Mindanao and escape during World War II. His contribution in Korean War was also credited by his peers and superiors. He served with US Army for 30 years from 1931 to 1961.

## Background

John McGee attended US Military Academy at Westpoint, New York in 1927 graduating in class of 1931.

### Philippine Scouts

In 1940 he reported to Petitt Barracks in Zamboanga in southern Philippines and was assigned to command Company C, 45th Infantry of the Philippine Scout, composed of Moros.
His experience in training, operating, and commanding indigenous soldiers made the best to command training center for this purpose. He was appointed to command the Zamboanga Training Center setup in Calarian, Zamboanga in August 1941.

### World War II

In December 1941, on orders of BG William Sharp, he was transferred to Bukidnon to command a battalion of Philippine Army. His battalion was assigned to guard Del Monte Field in Tankulan, Bukidnon still Mindanao.

#### Digos Sub-Sector

In January 1942, his battalion was placed under 101st Infantry a component of 101st Infantry Division. Transferred to Davao SubSector in Digos were he was also he became executive officer to Lieutenant Colonel Howard Perry and later commanded the 101st Infantry Regiment. He fought Muira detachment in February until he was replaced by Lieutenant Colonel Reed Graves commander of 101st Field Artillery Regiment.

#### Surrender

In May 1942, he obeyed General Sharp's order to surrender to the Japanese. He and his units surrendered and became prisoner of war on May 10, 1942. He and other American soldiers was reincarcerated in Camp Casisang, Malaybalay, Bukidnon.

#### Escaped

Some American officers including him were transferred to Davao Penal Colony and he was to be transferred to Japan in June 1944 but he escaped. He was rescued by Filipino fishermen and turned him over to Captain Claro Laureta the guerilla commander of Davao. Who arranged them to move to Zamboanga to meet Colonel Wendell Fertig commander of guerillas in Mindanao.
He was evacuated along 81 other POW escapees to Australia by US Navy Submarine, USS Narwal (SS-167) in September 1944. He was sent home by SWPAC Headquarters to recuperate while attended the Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. He was reassigned to command 169th Infantry Regiment a component of 43rd US Infantry Division who was to invade Japan in 1945. The invasion was cancelled due to the dropping of the Atomic bombs that capitulated Japan into unconditional surrender.

### Post World War II

He was deployed in Japan for occupational duty for a period but was transferred back to United States. 43rd Infantry Division was inactivated in Camp Stoneman, California after its returned to United States. He was assigned to training duty capitalizing his experiences during World War II in the Philippines. He was Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) instructor at the University of Illinois from (1946 - 1949). He was appointed to command 8th Infantry Regiment under the reactivated 4th Infantry Division (Training) at Ford Ord, California (1949 - 1950).

### Korean War

At the start of Korean war, Lieutenant Colonel John H. McGee was ordered to 8th US Army Headquarters in the Naktong Perimeter of South Korea. He was assigned the Miscellaneous Division of its G3 under Colonel William H. Bartlett, 8th US Army Chief of Operations. It was an assigned where his experience during World War II was put into used as it conducts guerilla operations in North Korea. When Far East Command assumed the responsibility of the guerilla operations in North Korea. He was ordered to organized a commando type unit to infiltrate, deep penetration, and collect enemy information after Far East Command organized 1st Raider Company after North Koreans broke through Naktong Perimeter. His unit was named 8th Army Ranger Company. He established Ranger Training Center at Kijang, South Korea. The success of his Ranger Training Center led to his appointment to command and established United Nations Reception Center (UNRC) at Taegu University upon orders of Lieutenant General Walton H. Walker commander of 8th US Army. In July 1951 he was ordered to United States to attend Army War College at Carlisle, Pennsylvania.

## Later life

McGee was promoted to brigadier general and was posted in Fort Lewis, Washington. He retired from US Army in 1961. He was inducted into the Ranger Hall of Fame in 1995. He wrote his book Rice and Salt.