John J. McGowan

John “Jay” McGowan was a veteran of the Vietnam War. He was born in September 1938 in Trenton, New Jersey, to parents Lieutenant Colonel Donald McGowan and Helen Schoeffel McGowan. McGowan was raised in Lawrenceville, New Jersey.

McGowan’s father Donald was a unique New Jersey soldier. He began active service as a bugler in the Mexican Border Expedition of 1916, and in World War I rose to the rank of regimental Sergeant Major of the 114th Infantry at the age of nineteen. McGowan’s father remained in the Guard after the war, and in World War II led the 102nd Cavalry ashore in Normandy. Following the war, he returned to New Jersey, where he resumed his position as Assistant Adjutant General, and then served as Deputy Chief of Staff of the New Jersey Guard. Donald McGowan was promoted to brigadier general in 1947.

Promoted to major general in 1948, Donald McGowan commanded the New Jersey Guard’s 50th Armored Division until 1955, when he went to Washington to become chief of the Army branch of the National Guard Bureau and in 1959, chief of the entire National Guard Bureau. He retired in 1963, the last soldier still on active duty who had deployed on the Mexican border in 1916, and died in 1967.

Donald’s son John McGowan went to Lawrenceville School, where he described himself as sort of an outcast, despite having participated in several sports. From an early age, he had expressed interest in becoming a pilot. One of his earliest memories was visiting Mercer County Airport, which was being used as a training station for aviators in World War II. He recollected that; “One day I remember being down at the paddock, caressing the horses and looking up, and there were all sorts of biplanes up there dogfighting, practicing. I said wow, that looks like a lot of fun!”

In 1955, the younger McGowan joined the New Jersey National Guard. After graduating from Lawrenceville School, he attended the University of Vermont. While there, McGowan joined the Army ROTC flight program. After graduation, he applied for flight school and was enrolled in and completed a course as a helicopter pilot. McGowan was assigned to a unit from Fort Sam Houston, which was being deployed to Vietnam. By this time, he was already married to Patricia Ann Merlone and had two children, a boy and girl.

In 1964, McGowan was deployed to Vietnam in the 57th Medical Detachment for evacuation and rescue of injured and wounded soldiers. Describing his experience in Vietnam, he recalled that it was: “Very interesting serving in Vietnam, very strange war.” McGowan remembered that his unit had gone to areas of conflict to rescue wounded combatants and quickly remove them from danger. His group had always flown at three-thousand feet above ground level, as small arms fire could not reach that height. This tactic, although not useful during landing and takeoff in combat zones, had helped ensure their safety. Vietnam was sparsely populated outside of the country’s main cities. He described the villages as not having any electricity. When darkness fell, the villagers simply went to sleep.

There were many casualties who could not be treated and returned to their units from field hospitals, and they were airlifted to Japan where the United States had more comprehensive hospitals. If cases were particularly severe, soldiers would be taken back to the United States. When McGowan was on leave from his duty in Vietnam, he received a call about transferring to a helicopter ambulance unit in Japan. He accepted, went to Japan, reunited with his family, and flew wounded soldiers to hospitals across the country.

When his term of service was complete, McGowan was honored with the Distinguished Flying Cross twice, the Bronze Star medal and the Army Commendation medal, both with V designation for valor. He and his wife had two more children shortly after he left the Army. Initially, it was difficult for him to find a job, and he was out of work for a year before being hired as a helicopter pilot with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. McGowan held this position for thirty-two years, during which he also became Chief Pilot and Manager of the Wall Street Heliport.

McGowan had been asked about whether he had experienced PTSD after returning home from the war. He replied, “No, I was there to save lives instead of to kill them. It was a different type of war for me than it was for other people.” In the end, McGowan felt that his work was very gratifying, and that he had lived a very fortunate life. 

John Joseph McGowan passed away on June 24, 2023 at the age of eighty-six. He is survived by his wife Patricia, his four children, Stuart, Heather, Keith, and Sarah, and six grandchildren. Upon his death he was profiled by the Dustoff Association.