Patrick McLaughlin volunteered for the draft even though he was 2-S deferred as a college student and entered the U.S. Army in July 1966. Six months later he was walking the point in Vietnam as an 11Bravo Infantry grunt. He soon was named a squad leader responsible for a dozen other soldiers assigned to “Dogface Charlie:” Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 18th Infantry, 1st Infantry Division (the famed “Big Red One”). He successfully walked the gauntlet of the Vietnam War emerging as a decorated combat soldier.
General Richard E. Cavazos, Dogface 6, Patrick’s battalion commander in Vietnam and an Army legend, described “’Mac’ as the man who volunteered to walk the point more than any of the other 1,000 members of the battalion. It was not bravado, but McLaughlin’s high sense of purpose and responsibility.” In the Cleveland Plain Dealer article of December 30, 1984 (U.S. attorney nominee likes to ‘walk the point’), Cavazos described McLaughlin as “one of the top combat soldiers he ever met in his 34-year Army career….‘He could have my wallet anytime he wants it.’”
The legacy of General Cavazos has been made manifest in that the Army has changed the name of Fort Hood to Fort Cavazos, Texas. According to McLaughlin, “The fort is now named after an American soldier that has earned it.”
Following military service, Patrick graduated from Ohio University, then Case Western Reserve University School of Law. He served in the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio as an Assistant U.S. Attorney. Patrick rose to lead the office upon the appointment by the judges of the U.S. district court followed by the appointment of President Ronald Reagan as the United States Attorney. After ten years of service with the Department of Justice, he entered the private practice of law.
He made his mark for 30 years in the private sector as an accomplished trial lawyer, the last 20 years heading his own firm. He is a retired Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers.
Patrick is an inductee to the Ohio Military Hall of Fame, and the Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame.
Deciding to try his hand at writing a novel, he says “This is my debut product and I hope you find it worthy.”
Married for more years than he is permitted to say by his wife, Christine, they have three sons, and now three daughters, with nine exceptional grandchildren. The McLaughlin’s all reside in the Greater Cleveland area.
Patrick is writing a sequel to Cheerful Obedience so Conor Patrick McKall and others serving with him will be back.
