Col Scott Mctague

Colonel Norman Scott McTague, of Prince George County, died Dec. 31, 2007,
after a spirited contest with a number of illnesses. He was 86. For the past four years, he has been aided beyond measure by the skilled and compassionate care of Mrs. Mary Burrow, CNA, and his home health care provider. Col. McTague was born in Okmulgee, OK. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1940, and later attended Officer Candidate School. In 1943 he met and married Emelia (Millie) Frances Rutyna, his wife of 60 years. In that year he was
posted to the 465th Glider Field Artillery Battalion, 82nd Airborne Div. This unit reorganized as regular field artillery, and was sent to the Pacific, where McTague served as forward artillery observer. He took part in the New Guinea campaign. He participated in the invasion of the Philippines in 1944 and fought in the liberation of Manila in March, 1945.
He served in the American forces occupying Japan. 1951 orders sent him to Germany, where he commanded a battery in the 73rd AA Artillery Battalion. After several other assignments, his 1955 duty station was Sheridan, WY, as advisor to the National Guard.
In 1958, now Major McTague went to South Vietnam as advisor and artillery instructor. In 1960, he attended the Command and General Staff School and later that year was sent to Fort Sill, OK. In 1962, McTague was ordered to Fort Hood, TX, where he was promoted to Lt. Col. and became Inspector General of the 1st Armored Division. In September, 1963, Col. McTague went again to Germany, where he commanded the 2nd Battalion of the 83rd Artillery. One of the officers in this unit later wrote of McTague as the finest commander he ever knew, wartime or peacetime. In 1965, McTague was promoted to full colonel, and became Logistics Staff Officer, V Corps Artillery. His orders in 1966 sent him to Fort Monroe, VA. From 1967-1968, he was Operations Officer, Continental Army Command, Emergency Operations Center. He was kept busy in those times of demonstrations, riot and assassinations. He was next transferred to Korea, where he held several important posts. His
last duty assignment was Fort Lee, VA, where he was Director, Logistics Exercise Division. He received the Legion of Merit for his outstanding performance in this post. Other decorations he received were the Army Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster, the Army of Occupation Medal (Germany and Japan), the National Defense Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, the Armed Forces Reserve Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, and the
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal. He retired from the U.S. Army as a Colonel of Artillery in August of 1973 after 33 years of service. He began a second career with the Virginia Department of Emergency Management in 1973. He was involved with fuel allocation during the gasoline shortages of the 1970's. McTague helped develop alternative transportation during the closure of the Benjamin Harrison Bridge from the collision of the
ship Marine Floridian in 1977. Col. McTague was appointed the Director of the Operations Division, overseeing the Virginia Emergency Operations Center. Next, he directed a Hazardous Materials Preparedness and Response program, concerned with chemical hazards. His efforts later served as the model adopted by the NFPA for its standards of training and qualifications. He served as Virginia's representative to the Federal Regional Response Team for Federal Region III. The RRT prepared for chemical emergencies in this
multi-state region. He was often consulted by authorities in this field, and was called to testify before congressional committees and other forums. Col. McTague was next tasked to create the division for Program Development, Evaluation and Training. This division was responsible for the management of programs which trained and prepared emergency responders. It developed tests and exercises to evaluate these responses. The division constructed methods that serve as the framework for many states' emergency management training programs. Under his watchful eye, several subordinates have earned national prominence in these fields. McTague retired from the Department in 1996. Col. McTague enjoyed fishing. He was an honorary Kentucky Colonel. He was variously known as the Colonel, Norman, Norm, Scott, or Scottie, or "Sir" to his children. Though often stern in demeanor, McTague was the author of many quiet acts of insightful kindness. He spent the early 2000's in a valiant struggle to care for his wife Millie, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. He was a member of the parish of the Church of the Sacred Heart in New Bohemia. Deacon Robert Baker of the parish has been a special blessing to him. Norman McTague was preceded in death by his wife Millie and his oldest son, Michael. He is survived by his son Peter of Midlothian, VA, daughter Mary Rogers and husband Peter of Worthington, OH, daughter Catherine of Mexico City, son Richard, of Dodge City, KA, daughter Patricia Eyre of Berwyn, PA, and son-in-law Matthew Eyre of the same town, daughter Barbara Hairfield and husband Michael of Roanoke, VA, and son Matthew and wife Michele of Midlothian. He is survived by his sister Marjorie Hoye and husband Bud of
Tulsa, OK, his sister Jo Anna Goodblood and husband Gerry, of Shawnee, KA, and his brother Richard and wife Dorothy of Overland Park, KA. Grandchildren are Benjamin Rogers and Nathaniel Rogers, of Columbus, OH, Sergeant Richard McTague, USMC, of Camp Pendleton, CA, Lance Corporal Patrick McTague, USMC, also based in Camp Pendleton, David McTague of San Diego, CA, Morgan Eyre of Berwyn, PA, Katie Hairfield, Rebecca Hairfield, and Will Hairfield, all of Roanoke, VA, and Scottie McTague and Ryan McTague of Midlothian, VA. Great-grandchildren are Anya Culver-Rogers of Columbus, OH, Maxwell Rogers of Columbus, OH, and Richard McTague of San Diego, CA.
A Christian Wake service will be held at the Hopewell Chapel of J.T.Morriss & Son Funeral Home Thursday January 3, 2008 at 7:00 PM with a visitation to follow until 9:00 PM. A Mass of the Resurrection will be held Friday January 4, 2008 at The Church of The Sacred Heart at 10:00 AM. Interment will be in Arlington National Cemetery at a later date. Contributions may be made in Colonel McTague's name to Army Emergency Relief, 200 Stovall Street, Room 5-N-13, Alexandria, VA 22332-0600, Web site http://www.aerhq.org
condolences may be registered at www.jtmorriss.com .