Mercer mourns for slain officer

McLaughlin was in line to become a National Guard battalion commander.
By LAURE CIOFFI
VINDICATOR PENNSYLVANIA BUREAU
MERCER, Pa. -- A solitary bell tolled repeatedly as hundreds of mourners waited to pay their last respects to Lt. Col. Michael E. McLaughlin.
McLaughlin, 44, died Jan. 5 in Ramadi, Iraq, of shrapnel from a suicide bomber. He was the first Pennsylvania National Guard officer to die in battle since World War II.
Guardsman in their dress green uniforms lined the walls of Immaculate Heart Roman Catholic Church for the two-hour service as hundreds of family members, friends, veterans and others gathered in the church pews and the church hall where a video feed of the service was relayed.
McLaughlin's colleagues described him as a leader with strong opinions who was in line to become a battalion commander in the Pennsylvania National Guard.
He was killed by a suicide bomber at a Ramadi glass plant, where about 300 Iraqis were gathered as part of a police recruitment. He was about halfway through his yearlong deployment in Iraq.
Military chaplain
Maj. Doug Etter, military chaplain, said he traveled from Iraq for the funeral to fulfill a promise he made to McLaughlin, who "knew this time might come."
"He was not a quiet or modest person. He was vivacious and gregarious," Etter said. "He made me think. He made me laugh. He made me proud."
Etter said McLaughlin was proud of his Catholic faith and died wearing a cross that Etter had given him. Etter said McLaughlin would often pull out his rosary beads and thumb them when dealing with Iraqi leaders who would be handling their religious items.
McLaughlin was a civil affairs officer in charge of helping restore the Iraqi economy, as well as being in charge of the artillery for the 2nd Brigade, 28th Infantry Division.
Strong personality
Etter described McLaughlin as a strong character.
"He was not a fence sitter. He was rarely neutral on anything. He was a storyteller, and no person or subject was taboo," Etter said.
Maj. Gen. Wesley Craig said he visited McLaughlin three weeks ago and told him he was earmarked to become a battalion commander, one of only 25 in the state.
"Certainly Mike was one of the very best. He couldn't wait to get started, but he was determined to complete his mission in Iraq," Craig said.
McLaughlin, who was president of MARC Builders in Mercer, leaves his wife, Tamera, and daughters, Ericha and Erin.
"We will never forget Mike McLaughlin. We will draw inspiration from him, and soldiers like him, and thank God for having known him," Craig said.