Col. Leo T. McMahon, Jr., U.S. Army, Retired, formerly of Camp Hill, died February 21, 2023 at Country Meadows Senior Care Center. Col. McMahon was born January 17, 1925, at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. He was preceded in death by his parents, Brigadier General Leo T. McMahon, U.S. Army, Retired, originally of Rome, New York, and Maybelle Harris McMahon, originally of Leavenworth, Kansas, as well as an infant brother, Michael Francis McMahon, and a sister, Mary Kathryn McMahon, who died of rheumatic fever at the age of nine.
A graduate of Camp Hill High School, Col. McMahon went on to attend Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts, followed by enrollment in off-campus programming at Dickinson College in Carlisle, the University of California – Los Angeles, and the University of Maryland, from which he graduated in 1958.
Col. McMahon served 33 years on active duty in the U.S. Army, from April 1, 1943, through May 1, 1976. His service included the Pacific during World War II; Korea in 1953, followed by duty in Japan; Vietnam in 1975 and 1976; and the “Cold War” between the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and the Soviet Bloc of Eastern European Communist Countries. During his service, he earned two awards of the Legion of Merit, a Bronze Star Medal, two Joint Service Commendation Medals, two Army Commendation Medals, and the Good Conduct Medal.
Col. McMahon was a member of the Phillips Academy Alumni Fund and the University of Maryland Alumni Fund. He was also a member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, Bobby Sands Division #1, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and The Friendly Sons of St. Patrick. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
He will be laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery with his wife of thirty years, Veronica Romayne Shay McMahon, who preceded him in death in October of 2018, as well as his parents and infant brother.
Surviving are cousins, Col. Thomas Hilton, USAF Ret. (Deanna), of Oregon; John Hilton (Robin) of Pennsylvania; Peter Hilton (Sandra) of Pennsylvania; Kathleen DiBiasi (James) of New York; Mary Catherine Russell Lantz (Kenneth), of Texas, Theresa Fahnestock (James), of Arizona; Mildred Russell Grace (William), of New York; Charles W. Russell (Bonnie), also of New York; Joseph M. Russell (Ismene), of Michigan; Andrea Burroughs (Steven) of Georgia; and Michael Massimi (Christine) of Arizona.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by an Army Chaplain at the Fort Myer Old Post Catholic Chapel located at the South Entrance to Arlington at 8:45AM on Monday, May 15, 2023, with interment to follow.
Memorial contributions may be made to his home parish, the Cathedral Church of St. Patrick, 212 State Street, Harrisburg, PA, 17101, or to “CTOF”, Community and Family Fund, Attn: Chaplain and Religious Services Fund, Joint Base Myer-Henderson, 101 McNair Road, Building 480, Arlington, VA 22211.
The Sullivan Funeral Home is honored to serve the McMahon family.