Photo Credit: Sandy McLaughlin
Clarissa Grizzle contributed to the writing of this vignette
Lieutenant Colonel (Ret.) James McLaughlin Jr., from Santa Rosa, California, had a passion to serve his nation that extended beyond his 32 years of military service; after he retired in 2007 from the U.S. Army, he became a contractor with L-3 MPRI, training helicopter pilots in Afghanistan and working on the U.S. Army Military Auxiliary Radio System. He loved serving his country and was known as a leader and mentor. Also referred to as a natural teacher, he intended to return home and teach high school science and math after his contract with L-3 MPRI expired in fall 2011.
In 2011, Lt. Col. McLaughlin was serving as an advisor to the Afghan Command and Control Center under NATO Air Training Command in Kabul, Afghanistan. Sadly, on the morning of 27 April 2011, a helicopter pilot for the Afghan Air Force pulled a pistol from his flight suit and opened fire, resulting in Lt. Col. McLaughlin and eight service members being killed in the line of duty.
Lieutenant Colonel (Ret.) James McLaughlin Jr. was survived by his wife, Sandy, his two sons, Adam and James, and his daughter, Eve.
Thank you, sir.
AAMF 