John Joseph McCarthy, 93, of Ocean Township, died on Thursday, February 4, 2016 at Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune from complications of heart disease. John was born in Queens, NY as the oldest son of five siblings. As a young man during the depression era, John worked in the Civilian Conservation Corps where he planted trees in New York State. At the age of 17, McCarthy joined the military and was a member of the Fighting 69th, 42 Rainbow Division. With the start of the war, this group was divided and he was assigned to Company K, 385th Infantry with the rank of staff sergeant. As an expert rifleman and machine gunner, he was assigned to train others on the use of these weapons. Among the many people he trained was Audie Murphy, who went on to be a highly decorated World War II hero as well as a movie actor after the war.
During World War II, McCarthy fought in the European campaign for a year and a half as part of the 3rd Army under General Patton. He earned the Bronze Star for his "exemplary conduct against the enemy" during the Battle of the Bulge and was involved in the liberation of various concentration camps. Of the 44 men in his platoon, only 14 returned home.
After his discharge, McCarthy moved to Monmouth County where he married his wife, Jean (deceased 2009) and raised four children. He worked as a physical scientist at the research and development lab at Fort Monmouth's Hexagon facility for more than 30 years. He was granted numerous patents on his research and his circuit board technology was used on Telstar 1.
John loved to travel, tend to his Wayside property and handicap horseracing at both Monmouth Park and Freehold Raceway. As a parishioner at St. Dorothea’s Roman Catholic Church in Eatontown for many years, John served as an usher. He most recently attended St. Anselm Roman Catholic Church in Tinton Falls.
Surviving is his sister, Kathleen DiPierro of Wading River NY; his four children, Vincent of Litchfield, CT, and his wife, Ann-Louise and children, Joseph, Mary Catherine and Anna Rose; Maureen of Asbury Park; Patricia of Danbury, CT; and David of Ridgewood and his wife, Edie and children Ryan, Lauren and Erin. John was a loving father who served family, country and God while leading a full life surrounded by great memories shared with his loving children and his 6 grandchildren.
Relatives and friends are invited to visit from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Friday, February 12, at the Fiore Funeral Home, 236 Monmouth Road, Oakhurst, Ocean Township. A Funeral Mass will be held at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 13 at St. Anselm's Roman Catholic Church, 1028 Wayside Road in Tinton Falls with burial and military honors to follow at Mt. Calvary Cemetery, Asbury Avenue in Neptune. The McCarthy Family has requested that, in lieu of flowers, donations in his memory can be made to Wounded Warrior Project, www.woundedwarriorproject.org . For condolences, please visit www.fiorefuneralhomes.com.