Hometown Heroes
Two weeks after graduating from West Fannin High School in June of 1973, John McClure left his hometown of Blue Ridge and joined the Army, a decision that would take him around the world.
McClure initially enlisted after heading to a recruiting station in Cleveland, Tennessee. “We did not have one in Blue Ridge then,” he explained. With limited job opportunities in the area at the time, he felt it was a practical choice. “I had to do something after high school, ya know. That’s just something I decided to do,” McClure recalled.
His military journey began at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, where he completed basic training in 1973. “The less you mess up, the less I’ll call your name,” McClure said, quoting his drill sergeant’s advice. Following basic training, McClure went to Fort Devens in Massachusetts to train as an Electronic Warfare Intercept Operator. However, when he encountered difficulties with the algebra component of the course, he shifted focus and volunteered to become a cook, attending cook school at Fort Lee, Virginia, in early 1974.
After finishing his cook training, McClure was stationed in West Berlin, where he spent over two years. Recalling the unique atmosphere of the divided city, he said, “I’ll always remember that,” referring to a day when he saw boys playing soccer in dreary, cloudy East Berlin while the sun shone on the West. He remained in Berlin until June 1976, after which he returned to the United States.
Despite bringing back a car he bought in Berlin, McClure found it hard to secure employment after his discharge. “I looked for a job, but I never could get hired,” he said, prompting him to reenlist in the Army 14 months later.
In 1977, he attended Radio Teletypewriter Operator School at Fort Gordon, Georgia, and stayed there until March of 1978 while awaiting a Top Secret Security Clearance.
After receiving his clearance, McClure was deployed to South Korea, where he spent four years and three months in multiple roles across various units. “I’ve never heard of anyone else staying over four years in Korea,” McClure remarked, noting his service in three distinct missions, which included time in Seoul, where he was involved in Air Defense Artillery, and later with the 19th Support Command in Tagou.
During his time there, he was even trained in mountain climbing and forward-facing rappelling techniques. “They actually asked me to stay one more year,” McClure recalled, though he ultimately decided to return home in June 1982.
McClure’s military career continued at Fort Hood, Texas, where he worked as a Radio Teletypewriter Operator until 1983. From there, he was sent to Summerville, New Jersey, to work as a recruiter until January 1985. “I decided that I had moved too much,” he explained, opting to leave the military and settle back in Blue Ridge.
Upon returning to civilian life, McClure pursued training as a Licensed Practical Nurse and worked at Union General Hospital from 1990 until 1992. He then transitioned into a career with the U.S. Postal Service, a position he held from 1993 until his retirement in 2017. “It took me five years and three interviews to get on at the post office,” McClure noted of the process.
When asked if he would do it all over again, McClure didn’t hesitate: “Absolutely, I would.” He also encourages local young people to consider the military as a career, especially in small towns. “Yes, I think it is an awesome career choice,” he said.
Today, McClure remains connected to the veteran community as a member of the American Legion.