Allan Big Al McCabe

My dad joined the Marine Corp 8/8/49. He traveled the world. In Sept 1950 he was sent to Korea. He was a machine gunner, part of the Howe Company 3rd BN 1st Marines, 1st division. On Sept 15,1950 dad was part of the first wave of marines to arrive at Inchon. "This is where the gung ho spirit has a change and you become very smart marines" Dad wrote in his papers. He fought in the assault and seizure of Inchon, they captured and secured Seoul, participated in the Wonsan landing, Hungnam and then to the Chosin Reservoir. The temperatures were 40 degrees below zero, and they were 78 miles from the harbor with fierce fighting that went on night after night." His papers reflect "we suffered thousands of casualties, the Siberian wind was relentless and restricted our ability to shoot our weapons, move or communicate. Blood plasma was frozen, machine guns jammed, artillery rounds fired erratically, water in their canteens was frozen. Marines on stretchers wounded froze to death. Everyone has frostbite, snow reduced visibility and masked the sound of the enemy advancing. No marine ever fought under worse conditions of weather and terrain. The marines fought an epic breakout to the sea. Turning back eight Chinese divisions and bringing out the wounded and dead." Dad was frozen from the waist down, his hands were frozen he suffered multiple gunshot wounds in his right leg. He would suffer from those wounds all his life. He was awarded a purple heart for his bravery. A true American hero!

When he returned to Paterson NJ he went to Huffman's candy store and startled the girl on the ladder, she fell into his arms, they exchanged names and on Jan. 17, 1953 they were married in St. Anthony's church in Paterson, NJ.

Mom and Dad went on to have three children, Eileen, Karen and Sharon.

Dad continued a career in public service as the Superintendant of the Department of Public works. Traffic control. streets and roads and his least favorite task, snow removal. I rode shotgun with him at work whenever possible. His brother Joe served the fire department, his dad Mark worked for the city repairing traffic control boxes. His cherished sister AnnaMay was an accomplished office manager. Dad encouraged me to serve the public. I worked in City Hall every summer recording trees that needed to be trimmed. While I did not particularly like this task I loved being at work with my dad everyday. He was my hero! In 1996 Mom and Dad moved to California to live near Mark and I. Their baby girl was married to a great guy and having a baby. Named after his great grandfather, grandfather and father MarkAllan entered the world 10/16/96. Our lives were forever changed for the better. We enjoyed so much life together and dad took a personal hand in stewarding his last grandson toward his future. Our son is an incredible man, dads wisdom imparted in his head and dads compassion planted in his heart. One of my dads final requests was for MarkAllan to wear dads original purple heart to his service. I could write a book on being loved unconditionally by such a great man. Dad was smart, humble, kind and simply my biggest fan. He was so proud of his family. I could write a book on the great memories I have of my dad. His pride in me encouraged me to never ever give up! My dad is back with my mom now together for eternity. It is what he wanted. Our hearts our heavy, we will continue on in his honor. He is my hero, he is my dad and I am the woman I am today because he loved me.