Herman H. Mc Lawhorn was born at Kinston, North Carolina, May 19, 1929. He attended Contentnea Elementary School and Hookerton High School. After his tour in Korea, he returned to farming. In 1956, he was employed by Serv-Air, Inc. as a flight dispatcher. Serv-Air, Inc. was an Air Force training school for pilots and operated Stallings Air Force Base located at Kinston, North Carolina. Upon the termination of Serv-Air’s contract with the Air Force, the base closed. Herman entered East Carolina College in 1958 and majored in Accounting. He completed his studies in 1963. He then began working as a Staff Accountant for Simon Sitterson, CPA. After sixteen years, he was hired by a client to be Controller for Robert Hill Construction Company, Neil Realty Company and Neil Medical Group, Inc. The term lasted for twenty-two years. He retired in 2001.
He is married to Bonnie Hall Mc Lawhorn. They have three daughters, two sons and ten grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren.
LTC Mc Lawhorn was drafted into the Army in January 10, 1951. He was sent to Camp Breckinridge, Kentucky. He was assigned to Company H, 53rd Airborne Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division. After sixteen weeks of Infantry Basic and Advance Infantry training, he was assigned to 101st Leadership School, 101st Airborne Division. Upon graduation on June 30, 1951, he was promoted to PFC and dispatched to the Far East. He arrived in Republic of Korea on August 14, 1951 and was assigned to Company G, Fifth Regimental Combat Team. The 5th RCT was undergoing refresher training until October 6, 1951
During the next five months, The Fifth Regimental Combat Team, as part of the 24th Infantry and 40th Infantry Divisions, was engaged in combat for one hundred thirty days. On October 7, 1951, the 5th RCT relieved the 31st Infantry Regiment near Champg’yong’dong, North Korea. After several weeks of intense fighting, the enemy was pushed further into North Korea. Near the village of Kumson, hill 770 was captured. The 5th RCT stayed there through the winter (sometimes the temperature dropped to forty degrees below zero) On February 24, 1952, the 5th RCT was relieved by 224th Regiment of 40th Infantry Division. Mc Lawhorn held the positions of Automatic Rifleman to Squad Leader during that time.
The 5th RCT was then dispatched to the United Nations Prisoner of War Compound located at Koje-do Island off the tip to South Korea. During the stay, the 5th RCT quelled three riots by the North Korean prisoners. After two months the 5th RCT was relocated to Inje Valley on the mainland. Mc Lawhorn was promoted to Corporal in November of 1951 and was promoted to Sergeant January of 1952. On June 5, 1952, he started his return trip to the United States arriving at Seattle on July 4, 1952. After a 30 day leave, he was assigned to the Separation Center at Fort Jackson, South Carolina for two months. On October 10, 1952 he was released from active duty and assigned to the Army Reserve.
On June 2, 1955, he received a direct appointment as a Second Lieutenant in the North Carolina Army National Guard. Over the next twenty-seven years, he held numerous assignments. Most notable were Battery Commander, Battery A, 690th Field Artillery Battalion, Executive Officer, 690th Maintenance Battalion and Battalion Commander 730th Maintenance Battalion. He retired on June 27, 1982 with rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He has a total of thirty-one years and five months of military service.
LTC Mc Lawhorn is a graduate of the Field Artillery Officer Basic Course, the Infantry Officer Basic Course, the Ordinance Officer Mobilization Advanced Course and the Command and General Staff College.
Awards include the Combat Infantry Badge, Army Commendation Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Army Reserve Component Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Korean Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, United Nations Service Medal, Republic of Korea Service Medal, North Carolina Meritorious Service Medal, North Carolina Commendation Medal, and Korean Presidential Unit Citation, North Carolina Meritorious Unit Citation and the North Carolina Distinguished Unit Citation.
He is a life member of the Combat Infantryman’s Association, The Twenty-fourth Infantry Division Association, The Reserve Officers Association, The American Legion, The Veterans of Foreign Wars, The National Guard Association of the United States and The North Carolina National Guard Association. He is also a member of the AMVETS, Korean War Veterans Association, The Fifth Regimental Combat Team Association and an associate member of chapter 892 Vietnam Veterans of America. He has served as Post Commander of American Legion Post # 43 (1999-2000) and Chairperson of Salute! A Tribute to America’s Veterans for the years 2003, 2004 and 2011. In December 2005, he accepted the position as Curator of the Walk of Honor. On November 6, 2011, Herman Mc Lawhorn was accepted into the Lenoir County Veteran’s Hall of Fame.
LTC Herman H. Mc Lawhorn is one of four sons of Herman Mc Lawhorn who have worn the uniform of the United States Army. SGT William A. Mc Lawhorn served during World War Two. He was a Pearl Harbor Survivor. Herman was drafted during the Korean War. After returning home, He joined the North Carolina Army National Guard, SGT Douglas Mc Lawhorn and SGT Kenneth Mc Lawhorn also served in the North Carolina Army National Guard.
Other members of the Herman Mc Lawhorn family that have served are; grandsons SGT Wayne Pate, US Air Force, SGT Donald A. Pate, US Army James O. Daniels US Air Force, Major David B. Cook; US Army, great-grandson Justin Page Beasley, US Air Force, great-grandson David B. Cook, Jr. great-great-grandson SGT Mathew Cooper US Army, sons-in-law SGT James G. Simpkins, US Marine Corps and PFC Robert J. Moore, US Army, Grandson-in-law SGT David Glenn Spencer, North Carolina army National Guard and special nephew LCPL William H. Wiggins, US Marine Corps.
