John Joseph McCarthy

Sergeant John Joseph McCarthy was born on September 26, 1948. His home of record is Collingswood, NJ. He graduated from Collingswood High School in 1967.

John J. McCarthy served in the US Army and attained the rank of Sergeant. He was attached to A Company, 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry, 4th Infantry Division.

Sergeant McCarthy was killed in action on May 7, 1970 when his helicopter was shot down in Cambodia.

Sergeant John Joseph McCarthy was awarded the Purple Heart. He is honored on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial on Panel 11W, Line 126.

He is buried at Beverly National Cemetery, Beverly, NJ — Section P, Site 571.

Worked With Him in Viet Nam

I was with him the day the helicopter was shot down in Cambodia, not Pleiku. John always joked and made things a lot easier with his positive attitude. One of only two pictures I have from my time in Viet Nam is of John and I. I have thought of you often through the years and you are greatly missed.

— GT Glynn Barnes, Ellenwood, GA — May 10, 2005

Still in My Heart

There will always be one very special, very large place in my heart for Jay. He was charming, caring and quite a character. Laughter was always his medicine. So close to the end of his tour of duty, we thought we had our whole lives ahead of us. How cruel this war was to take so many wonderful young men. My visit to the Wall was overwhelming and can never be forgotten. Just like Jay.

— Janet Moritz McNamee, High School Sweetheart/Fiancée, Forest, Virginia — May 27, 2005

John was a great guy, a great friend with a fantastic personality — always kind, always smiling, always quick with a joke to make you laugh. He is greatly missed and lovingly remembered by all his friends from Collingswood High School, Class of 1967.

— Doreen Clayton, Friend/Classmate, Haddonfield, NJ — February 4, 2003