Military Intelligence |
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Photo In Uniform |
Service Details |
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Current Service Status
USA Retired
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Current/Last Rank
Colonel
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Current/Last Service Branch
Infantry
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Current/Last Primary MOS
1690-Military Intelligence Unit Commander
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Current/Last MOS Group
Military Intelligence
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Primary Unit
1950-1950, A Company, 1st Battalion, 5th Cavalry (Rifle)
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Service Years
1946 - 1979
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Other Languages
German
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What are you doing now:
Writing articles and books, mostly in the travel field. Latest book, THE DARK SIDE OF GLORY, is a mystery/suspense novel in a military setting during the Korean War (Please Google the title for details).
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1946-1946, The Armored Force School (Staff) Fort Knox KY
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1947-1949, B Company, 3rd Engineer Battalion
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1950-1950, A Company, 1st Battalion, 5th Cavalry (Rifle)
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1950-1951, A Company, 1st Battalion, 5th Cavalry (Rifle)
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1951-1952, 1st Army Division East (First Army)
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1952-1953, Trieste United States Troops (TRUST)
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1953-1953, Trieste United States Troops (TRUST)
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1953-1955, US Military Liaison Mission (USMLM), Commander-in-Chief of the Group of Soviet Forces (CINC GSFG)
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1957-1960, 1st Squadron, 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment
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1961-1963, 8th Infantry Division
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1963-1965, Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA)
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1966-1967, HHC, Military Assistance Command Vietnam (MACV)
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1966-1967, 8th Radio Research Field Station
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1967-1968, US Army Element, HQ, PACOM (CINCPAC), US Pacific Command (USPACOM)
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1969-1971, Army Security Agency Field Station (USASAFS) FS Chitose
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1971-1973, US Army Japan (USARJ), US Army Pacific (USARPAC)
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1973-1974, United States Defense Attache Office, Saigon, Republic of Vietnam
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1973-1974, United States Defense Attache, Vietnam
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1974-1975, 504th Army Security Agency Group
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1975-1977, US Army Western Command (WESTCOM)
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1977-1978, US Army Element (LANDSOUTHEAST), Allied Land Forces South-Eastern Europe (LANDSOUTHEAST)
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1978-1979, US Army Western Command (WESTCOM)
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- Furio, Tony, SFC, (1947-1967)
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Reflections on COL McMahon's
US Army Service
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PLEASE DESCRIBE WHO OR WHAT INFLUENCED YOUR DECISION TO JOIN THE ARMY.
I came of age during World War II, and being young and Idealistic I desperately wanted to get in on the action. When I turned 16, I altered my birth certificate and rushed to the local recruiting office. It didn't take them long to discover the deception, and they threw me out the door.
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WHETHER YOU WERE IN THE SERVICE FOR SEVERAL YEARS OR AS A CAREER, PLEASE DESCRIBE THE DIRECTION OR PATH YOU TOOK. WHERE DID YOU GO TO BASIC TRAINING AND WHAT UNITS, BASES OR SQUADRONS WERE YOU ASSIGNED TO? WHAT WAS YOUR REASON FOR LEAVING?
I was in the Infantry and Armor most of my early career. Received a Regular Army commission in Military Intelligence shortly before promotion to Lieutenant Colonel. Thereafter served in senior command and staff positions. My reason for leaving was that I had reached the 30-year mandatory retirement point for officers. If it wasn't for that, I'd still be in.
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IF YOU PARTICIPATED IN ANY MILITARY OPERATIONS, INCLUDING COMBAT, HUMANITARIAN AND PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS, PLEASE DESCRIBE THOSE WHICH MADE A LASTING IMPACT ON YOU AND, IF LIFE-CHANGING, IN WHAT WAY?
I served in combat in Korea from September 1950 to May 1951, as a platoon sergeant and platoon leader with Company A, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division. I participated in the defense of and breakout from the Pusan/Naktong perimeter, the long pursuit almost to the Chinese border, and the long withdrawal back. I was promoted to Lieutenant while in Korea and it was a life-changing experience, in that I had reached the highest enlisted rank (E7 in those days) at a young age, and would have probably left the service to go to college under the GI Bill.
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OF ALL YOUR DUTY STATIONS OR ASSIGNMENTS, WHICH ONE DO YOU HAVE FONDEST MEMORIES OF AND WHY? WHICH WAS YOUR LEAST FAVORITE?
It's a close call, but commanding officer of USASA Field Station, Chitose, Japan, rates as the best assignment with the fondest memories. Working with outstanding personnel in a unit charged with a mission of significant importance to national security, in a beautiful location on scenic Hokkaido, Japan, and interaction with a friendly and supportive local population, is a commander's dream. Lifelong friendships formed there to confirm the selection. Commander of a training company at Fort Dix, New Jersey was my least favorite assignment. With men rotating through the unit on an 8-week cycle, and training conducted by a post committee, I had little to do but provide housekeeping functions.
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FROM YOUR ENTIRE MILITARY SERVICE, DESCRIBE ANY MEMORIES YOU STILL REFLECT BACK ON TO THIS DAY.
It was autumn 1946. I had joined the Army and been sent to a reception center at Fort Dix, New Jersey. We recruits had just been issued our uniforms and assigned to our barracks. Arriving late, I saw to my disappointment that all lower bunks were already taken. As I started to pull myself into an upper bunk, my foot slipped, and I banged my face hard on the iron bed rail. As I stumbled backward, the man in the lower bunk rose. "You're bleeding," he said. "Lemme see that." My new bunk-mate dabbed at my split lip with his new Army olive-drab handkerchief and handed it to me. "You take the lower one." With that, he raised his 6-foot-plus frame effortlessly into the upper bunk. From that day on we were inseparable. It wasn't by design, it was just something that happened. I don't remember why the rest of the barracks began calling us "Batman and Robin." It could have been because of the difference in our height (I was a good 8 inches shorter than he was) and because we were always together. But, whatever the reason, the names stuck. We even called each other that.
Normally, we would have only been at Dix a few days, then further assigned to a basic training center. But a large number of draftees and volunteers had been mustered to replace the men who had won the war, and who were now being discharged by thousands per day, and all training centers were full. We would spend almost a month at Dix, learning the most basic of the basics, while waiting for a real training center to beckon. Whatever the activity, Batman and I were side by side. Even if one of us was selected for an unpleasant duty, the other would volunteer to go along. It was almost fun to be on KP with Batman, as we swabbed the floor while he led us in the ribald verses of "I Used to Work in Chicago".
Finally, the day came when we received our orders, assigning us to basic training at Fort Knox, Kentucky, all of us, that is, except one. I was devastated to learn that Batman was not on the list. Of course, we soon realized why. We were all Caucasians. Batman was African American. It was a segregated Army in those days, and Batman would go to a separate training center and be then assigned to a segregated unit. We parted tearfully, I'm not ashamed to admit, vowing to keep in touch. He wrote as soon as he joined his new unit, and I wrote back. Gradually, though, as our paths diverged, the letters stopped. When I tried later to renew the correspondence, I realized I could no longer remember his real name. The fog of time had intervened, as it probably had for him, too. I would go on to spend more than 33 years in the Army, acquiring many fine friends and wonderful memories. But one of my fondest recollections will always be of the short time spent with my first true comrade in those very early days when he was Batman and I was Robin.
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WHAT PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF FROM YOUR MILITARY CAREER?
Silver Star awarded for actions involved in assaulting a hill near Omaegok, Korea. Purple Heart awarded for same action. Bronze Star awarded for cumulative actions and service in Korea.
SILVER STAR CITATION
General Orders 122, Headquarters 1st Cavalry Division, 6 July 1951.
By direction of the President, under provisions of the act of Congress approved 9 July 1918 (WD Bul 43, 1918), and pursuant to the authority contained in AR 600-45, the Silver Star for gallantry in action is awarded to the following named officer:
First Lieutenant RICHARD A McMAHON 01341809, Infantry, United States Army, Company A, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division, for gallantry in action against the enemy on 30 January 1951, near Omaegok, Korea. While his platoon was providing a base of fire for two platoons that were attacking a strongly fortified enemy position, Lieutenant McMAHON noticed that one of the assault elements had lost their leader and was pinned down by intense small arms fire and hand grenades. Realizing the importance for aggressive action, he rushed forward to the point of the leading squad and personally led the platoon in an assault which overran the Chinese emplacements. During this action, he singlehandedly neutralized two hostile positions and personally accounted for two enemy. Lieutenant McMAHON's quick actions and aggressive leadership were an inspiration to the men of the assault platoon and instrumental in the success of the mission. His gallantry and devotion to duty reflect great credit on himself and the military service. Entered federal service from New York.
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OF ALL THE MEDALS, AWARDS, FORMAL PRESENTATIONS AND QUALIFICATION BADGES YOU RECEIVED, OR OTHER MEMORABILIA, WHICH ONE IS THE MOST MEANINGFUL TO YOU AND WHY?
Silver Star, Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Combat Infantry Badge, are the most meaningful because they are combat awards.
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WHICH INDIVIDUAL(S) FROM YOUR TIME IN THE MILITARY STAND OUT AS HAVING THE MOST POSITIVE IMPACT ON YOU AND WHY?
With the return of the territory of Trieste to Italy in 1953, I and many other officers were reassigned from the 351st Infantry in Trieste to the 6th Infantry in Berlin. This large influx of officers created problems for the 6th, which was pretty much up to strength. Accordingly, many officers were assigned as "excess" to the needs of the command. Another officer and I were given the title of assistant S-4, a position which didn't exist. We reported to the S-4, an over-age-in-grade captain, who didn't need us, and didn't want us. The future looked grim.
Lt. Col. Herman M. Volheim, the former XO of the 351st, had just been assigned as deputy commander of the US Military Liaison Mission to Soviet Forces Germany, located in Potsdam, just outside Berlin. He was looking for a combat arms officer to balance his staff, and asked for me by name. The regiment was happy to let me go, and I was happy to leave. To this day, there is no doubt in my mind that Colonel Volheim saved my Army career.
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LIST THE NAMES OF OLD FRIENDS YOU SERVED WITH, AT WHICH LOCATIONS, AND RECOUNT WHAT YOU REMEMBER MOST ABOUT THEM. INDICATE THOSE YOU ARE ALREADY IN TOUCH WITH AND THOSE YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE CONTACT WITH.
Sgt 1st Class Tony J. Furio, RA39274760, entered the service from Texas. We served together in 5th Cav Regt in Japan and Korea 1950-51. Last known assignment Ft. Devens, MA
1st Lt. Richard Caldie Rogers. We served together at Fort Dix, NJ 1951 and in the 351st Inf Regt, Trieste, Italy, 1951-53. Probably retired as a colonel about 1974-76.
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CAN YOU RECOUNT A PARTICULAR INCIDENT FROM YOUR SERVICE, WHICH MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE BEEN FUNNY AT THE TIME, BUT STILL MAKES YOU LAUGH?
During the Korean War, when our company rolled into Pyongyang the capital of North Korea, we could hardly believe our good fortune to find ourselves quartered in a brewery. For the next several days, we celebrated and shared our bounty until the vat stopped flowing. A soldier with brewery experience volunteered to assess the situation. He quickly returned from the machinery ashen-faced. Apparently, our North Korean adversaries had left us a going-away present. He had found a dead body floating in the almost empty vat. I can laugh about it now, but it was far from funny at the time.
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WHAT PROFESSION DID YOU FOLLOW AFTER YOUR MILITARY SERVICE AND WHAT ARE YOU DOING NOW? IF YOU ARE CURRENTLY SERVING, WHAT IS YOUR PRESENT OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY?
After a 30-month stint in Saudi Arabia as an operations manager for Global Associates, I returned to college to earn two master's degrees (History, English). As a lifelong hiker, I founded the Hawaii hiking program for Mountain Travel Sobek, an adventure travel company. For the next seven years, I led hiking tours in Hawaii and worldwide. Since then, have been pursuing a writing career, publishing five books and numerous articles, mostly in the travel and military fields. My latest book, "The Dark Side of Glory," is a military suspense novel, set during the Korean War.
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WHAT MILITARY ASSOCIATIONS ARE YOU A MEMBER OF, IF ANY? WHAT SPECIFIC BENEFITS DO YOU DERIVE FROM YOUR MEMBERSHIPS?
Together We Served - Keeps me connected.
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IN WHAT WAYS HAS SERVING IN THE MILITARY INFLUENCED THE WAY YOU HAVE APPROACHED YOUR LIFE AND YOUR CAREER? WHAT DO YOU MISS MOST ABOUT YOUR TIME IN THE SERVICE?
When I entered the service I was immature, without any special skills, and lacked a high school diploma. By exposing me to positions of increasing responsibility, the Army bolstered my confidence and gave me a sense of values and personal discipline. Through its educational opportunities, I was able to get my high school diploma, graduate from the University of Maryland Overseas Campus, the Command and General Staff College, the Army War College, and finally, after retirement, earn two Masters Degrees, financed by the GI Bill. These were all life-changing events.
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BASED ON YOUR OWN EXPERIENCES, WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO THOSE WHO HAVE RECENTLY JOINED THE ARMY?
Remember the importance of loyalty to the nation, to the Army, and to your fellow soldiers. You owe your loyalty not only to your commander but also to those you command and to your associates.
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IN WHAT WAYS HAS TOGETHERWESERVED.COM HELPED YOU REMEMBER YOUR MILITARY SERVICE AND THE FRIENDS YOU SERVED WITH.
| TWS and the US Army |
After more than 30 years in retirement, it has re-connected me with my military past and memories. It's given me a way to commemorate fallen comrades and communicate with others. I'm still looking for friends who are not listed on TWS membership records in question 9. DS 5/8/17
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