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| Army Sgt. 1st Class Herbert Frederick McCune |
| After attending basic training at Fort Polk, La. as an infantry rifleman, Private McCune was selected for Ranger training as a paratrooper and made jumps from fixed wing, rotary and glider aircraft. Corporal McCune was then sent to Korea as a rifleman replacement for the First Airborne Ranger Company, First Squad and First Platoon May 12, 1951. Within the first week of his tour in Korea, Cpl. McCune participated in two combat patrols, including Task Force Zebra. During one of these patrols, he received white frost burns on his back. Cpl. McCune also fought in the battle known as the May Massacre from May 16 to May 18, 1951. During this battle the company was overrun by Chinese Communist forces and McCune's squad became isolated from their platoon. The First Squad avoided capture for three days and returned to Army control May 19, 1951. Cpl. McCune assisted in training new replacements to the 1st Airborne Ranger Company and participated in two additional combat patrols into the Punchbowl area of Korea. The 1st Airborne Ranger Company was deactivated July 31, 1951 and McCune received a transfer to the 187th Airborne Regimental Combat Team in Japan and Hawaii, training in guerrilla warfare. After the Korean War, Sgt McCune moved his military career into recruiting and Jr. ROTC training, where he devoted the remaining 13 years as a role model for young men. His final seven years of military service were spent with the 4th U.S. Army ROTC Instructor Group in Fort Worth, teaching Army Jr. ROTC in the Fort Worth School District. From 1968 to present, Herbert worked in the Fort Worth area as a truck driver and security guard. |
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Ranger Creed Recognizing that I volunteered as a Ranger, fully knowing the hazards of my chosen profession, I will always endeavor to uphold the prestige, honor, and high esprit de corps of the Rangers. Acknowledging the fact that a Ranger is a more elite soldier who arrives at the cutting edge of battle by land, sea, or air, I accept the fact that as a Ranger my country expects me to move further, faster, and fight harder than any other soldier. Never shall I fail my comrades I will always keep myself mentally alert, physically strong, and morally straight and I will shoulder more than my share of the task whatever it may be, one hundred percent and then some. Gallantly will I show the world that I am a specially selected and well trained soldier. My courtesy to superior officers, neatness of dress, and care of equipment shall set the example for others to follow. Energetically will I meet the enemies of my country. I shall defeat them on the field of battle for I am better trained and will fight with all my might. Surrender is not a Ranger word. I will never leave fallen comrade to fall into the hands of the enemy and under no circumstances will I ever embarrass my country. Readily will I display the intestinal fortitude required to fight on to the Ranger objective and complete the mission, though I be the lone survivor. |
| Herb F McCune, how strange it is for me to say that. all I ever called him was "Sarge". born 1930 and went to be with the Lord on April 20th 2002. Beloved by many as a leader of men and molder of even younger men. he had to be special to get a bunch of his "boys" as he called us, all moving in the same direction at the same time, doing things we never thought we could. And in spite of his ranting and raving we managed to bring home an All City Championship. Sarge had a way of making you think he was going to invoke the rath of God and then explaining why he did what he did. He was stern in his discipline and rightfully so because after i got to Vietnam I found out why. What Sarge taught me and im sure the others as well was something you cant just go out and find. It enabled me personally and other to survive the war. When I found myself at jump school, and the going got tough, I thought of "Sarge". I figured if he could do it, so could I. that thought carried me thru the rest of the way. So Sarge if you're going on ahead and thats the way it�s gonna be, when you hit those streets of gold, stake a claim out for the rest of us. Rangers Lead the Way!!!! I asked God for water, he gave me an ocean I asked God for a flower, he gave me a garden I asked God for a tree, he gave me a forest I asked God for a friend, and he gave me you There is�nt enough darkness in the world to put out the light of one candle, and a candle loses nothing by lighting another candle as you have done Sarge! May all your jumps be Hollywood! CHARLIE DOUGLAS USN RVN 67-68 |
| It isn't easy to talk of the life of Herbert McCune. For it is to talk of a man who was so many things to so many. He was a warrior, a teacher, a father figure, and a friend. His expectations of his students were very simple: give your best or be gone. There a movie some years ago about another teacher's impact upon the life of students. The theme song for that movie was also named "To Sir With Love" and some of the lyrics went, "How do you thank someone for taking your from crayons to perfume?" Maybe he didn't take all the girls in our classes completely from those crayons to perfume maybe he didn't take all of us guys from peach fuzz to shaving cream. He did that for us of us - and I was lucky enough to be one of them. For so many of us, he was the first teacher we had to truly challenge us mentally, physically, and emotionally. The first to really lay the foundation for our later lives. Often, during my own military career, I would wonder how he would have handled the problem I faced. He has left us now to stand his last formation - alone. To stand his last inspection where he will with a soldier's acceptance expect nothing more in judgement than he gave to others - to be judged firmly but fairly. When the book of his life is reviewed, he will get a judgement that can only result in his getting the respite he deserves for his living a good life. As the song said, I didn't know how to say thank you to you back then. Nor do I know how to say good bye to you today. I can only say, "Thank you, Herbert McCune for being a part of my life... Goodbye Sarge, with love. Alvin W. Slayton, Master Sergeant, USA, Ret |
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