Colonel James J. McAloon

Colonel was born on November 8, 1921 in Glasgow, Scotland to James Patrick McAloon and Margaret Izat McAloon. His family immigrated to the United States in 1925 and settled in Greenwich, CT. James attended St. Mary’s Catholic School and Greenwich High School, graduating in 1940. That same year, he entered the service in the Connecticut National Guard and was called to active duty in 1941. He was sent to Camp Blanding Florida in the 192nd F.A. Anti Tank Battalion of the 34rd Inf. Division. After Pearl Harbor, the Colonel was selected for Tank Destroyer Officers Candidate School at Ft. Hood, Texas and graduated as a Second Lt. in 1942. He was assigned to the 701 Tank Destroyer battalion, 1st Armored Division with whom he fought in North Africa, where he was wounded, and in Italy. Upon his discharge from the active Army in 1945 and assignment to the Reserves, he entered St. Lawrence University in Canton, New York where he received his B.A. in Sociology in 1949.

Colonel McAloon served with distinction in WW2, where he was awarded the Purple Heart, in Germany during the Cold War, and Vietnam. He served as aide-de-camp of General of the Army Dwight D. Eisenhower in Paris, France. He commanded F troop 3rd. Armored Cavalry, the 5th Squadron 9th Cavalry, a descendent of the famous “Buffalo Soldiers” 9th Cavalry, the 194th Armored Brigade. He also served as Chief of the Armor Combat Development Command in Ft. Knox, KY. He retired as the Professor of Military Science at the University of Iowa.

Colonel received his Masters of Arts Degree in Education from Boston College and a Masters of Arts in Counseling from Chapman College in California. He continued to serve his country as a member of the United States Military Academy Admissions Field Force in assisting those who sought to enter the Military Academies.

He served as a forty year volunteer at the Crosby AT&T National Pro Am Professional Golf Tournament at Pebble Beach, CA as the Course Captain Marshal. In addition, Colonel served in the same capacity for two PGAs and three United States Opens. He was recognized in 2000 for his service.

Colonel is a member of St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church, Clarksville, IN. He served as a member and Chair of the Parish Council.

Colonel McAloon is survived by his wife, Constance Marie Boyd, whom he married in Chatham, NJ on June 21, 1947. They have six children: James Dayton McAloon (Helen), Deirdre Elizabeth Boelter (Ron), Constance Maureen Fust (Gary), Sean Christopher McAloon (Karen), Bridget McAloon Barber (James), and Colonel Brendan Boyd McAloon (Michele). They have fifteen grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be from 3:00 pm ~ 8:00 pm Wednesday, October 27th at Kraft Funeral Service, 708 E. Spring St., New Albany. There will be a Rosary Service at 4 pm Wednesday at the funeral home. His Funeral Mass will be 10:00 am Thursday, October 28th at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church in Clarksville, IN. Burial with military honors will be held at Arlington National Cemetery at a future date.

Expressions of sympathy may be made to St. Anthony’s of Padua Catholic School.