John Michael McHugh

West Point, 1986

Be Thou At Peace

Posted by Eric Verzola on March 23, 2017:

COL McHugh was my boss (or COG, commander of group) when I was an Observer/Trainer (O/T) with Operations Group Alpha (OPSGRP A), Battle Command Training Program (BCTP), Ft. Leavenworth, KS in 2010. When he was killed in Kabul, a portion of the OPSGRP was in Germany on another mission-- I was with this group of O/Ts. COL McHugh was the best leader I served under in my 20 years in the U.S. Army. He was an outstanding leader. He had a way of connecting with his subordinates that always respected who you were. He really knew what you were about. He had a way of relating his tremendous Faith with out ever talking about his Faith. I will always remember his smile. It was a smile of confidence, but not a prideful one. That smile was, in my mind, a smile of confidence in you. You always knew he cared about what you did for the OPSGRP, even if wasn't the showcase of the operation, or exercise. The thing I will always remember about him was the way he represented field grade officers and their professionalism. At that time of my career, I had experiences with very prideful and egocentric officers who were O-6s. They were not good people and they were poor leaders. I had lost my faith and confidence in leaders and the Army as an institution at that point in my life. He restored my faith in both in my time with him. He built confidence in his teams and subordinates. He is greatly missed. Be thou at peace, COL Mac.

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