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First Name
John
Middle Name
Michael
Last Name
McGrath
Birthdate
Hometown
Delta, Colorado
Rank
Captain
Service Branch
Navy
Date Captured
Date Repatriated
Pre Capture Image
PreCapture Description
John McGrath entered the U.S. Naval Academy in 1958, and he was commissioned in the U.S. Navy on June 6, 1962. McGrath served temporary duty on the aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk (CVA-63) from June to September 1962, and then began flight training at NAS Pensacola, Florida. He completed flight training and was designated a Naval Aviator on November 22, 1963, at NAS Chase Field, Texas. McGrath then served as a flight instructor with VT-2 "The Doerbirds" at NAS Whiting Field, Florida, from November 1963 to October 1964. He joined the Replacement Air Group at NAS Lemoore, California, where he flew the A-4C Skyhawk from October 1964 to May 1965, before joining VA-146 "The Blue Diamonds", flying off USS Ranger (CVA-61) for 157 combat missions in Southeast Asia, and off USS Constellation (CV-64) for his last 22 combat missions before being shot down by antiaircraft fire on June 30, 1967.
Post Release Image
Post Release Description
Captain McGrath was released during Operation Homecoming on March 4, 1973. After hospitalization, McGrath attended the Naval Postgraduate School from January 1974 to September 1975, where he received his Masters degree in Financial Management. From September 1975 to July 1977, he served with VA-195 "The Dambusters", flying the A-7E Corsair II with cruises on board USS Enterprise (CVN-65). He next served as Executive Officer and later Commander of VA-97 "The Warhawks" from July 1977 to July 1980, with cruises aboard USS Coral Sea (CVA-43). Captain McGrath's next assignment was as a Department Head at the U.S. Naval Academy, where he served from July 1980 to July 1982. He was assigned to the Defense Intelligence Agency as a student at the Defense Intelligence College and in the Defense Language Institute from July 1982 to October 1983, to prepare him for service as Naval Attache in Quito, Ecuador, where he served from October 1983 to October 1986. Captain McGrath next served in Washington, D.C., where he was debriefed and processed for retirement, retiring from the Navy on January 10, 1987. After retiring from the Navy, Mike flew for United Airlines. He was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2003 and was presented with the Medal of Courage. Mike McGrath is a former two-time President of NAM-POWs Corp and is currently serving as the NAM-POWs Historian. He is married to the former Marlene Hanuschak of Youngstown, Ohio.
Honors, Citations, and Commendations
- Silver Star
- Defense Superior Service Medal
- Legion of Merit
- Navy and Marine Corps Medal
- Distinguished Flying Cross (2)
- Bronze Star (3)
- Prisoner of War Medal
Passed away before release
Post Release