John's Story
On Thursday, November 14, 1963, Dorothy (Bethea) McPhaul and John Howard McPhaul, Sr. became the parents of John Howard McPhaul, Jr. On Sunday, February 28, 2021, John, also affectionately known as Dooley, J Mac, John John, Daddio, and J Pop, entered eternal life. From his first Thursday until his last Sunday, John lived a full life. John and his two older siblings, George and Vickie, were raised in their childhood home in Maxton, North Carolina.
John attended Red Springs High School and was a saxophonist in the school band. After high school, he continued his educational, musical, and fraternal pursuits at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. He was a member of the Blue & Gold Marching Machine. Additionally, he pledged Phi Beta Sigma, Fraternity, Inc. He excelled in the organization and was elected chapter president. John earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communication.
While attending North Carolina A & T, he joined the Reserve Officer Training Corps and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Army upon graduating in 1986. After completing the Basic Officer Leadership Course, he was to be assigned to Germany; however, God intervened, canceled the order, and diverted him to Fort Lewis, Washington.
It was there where he met and married the love of his life, DeeDee Ross. They wed on February 16, 1990. Soon after, John, DeeDee, and little Sierra began life together as a family of three. The trio departed from Fort Lewis to Fort Sill, Oklahoma. John attended the Combined Army Service and Staff School. Upon completion, the family returned to the Fort Lewis area, and John accepted a 12- month unaccompanied Permanent Change of Station (PCS) tour in Korea. He was stationed at Osan Air Force Base.
When the tour concluded, John rejoined the family. They resided in Fort Lewis for three years. In July 1995, the McPhauls made the cross-country move to the Washington, DC area. John received multiple assignments in Northern Virginia to include working at the Hoffman Building and the Pentagon. In order to advance professionally, John attended the College of Naval Command and Staff in Newport, Rhode Island to obtain a Master's Degree in National Security and Strategic Studies.
Upon completion of the program in 2000, John shifted from the Combat Arms (Field Artillery Branch) to the Combat Service Support (Adjutant General’s Corps Branch) and moved DeeDee and Sierra back to the DC area. This was a major, sacrificial decision because John loved being with the troops, but he chose to alter his plan in order for Sierra to finish high school in one location. He then fulfilled his obligation for another overseas tour, choosing an unaccompanied assignment to Korea’s Demilitarized Zone.
After his yearlong obligation, John was reassigned to the Pentagon. Once Sierra graduated high school and completed college, John and DeeDee were empty nesters. John’s career progression necessitated that he continue his military education. In 2007, he was admitted to the Army War College at Carlisle Barracks in Pennsylvania. DeeDee remained in Virginia while John and one of his battle buddies commuted home from school every weekend that year.
This coursework earned John a second Master's Degree in National Security and Strategic Studies. While working on a Diversity and Inclusion Task Force as the Chief of Staff, John completed his last PCS in the DC area. John’s determination, intelligence, and knowledge were instrumental in the conversion of that Task Force into 6 the Army Diversity Office. He received high accolades from the General Officer who identified John as a “Soldier’s Soldier”. The General Officer affirmed that John was the best person for that job. He was promoted to Colonel (O6) in 2008, but it was general consensus that if John had chosen to stay in the Army, he would have risen to the rank of a General Officer.
After 25 years of service, John retired from the military in November 2011. He was awarded the Legion of Merit upon retirement. John's service to his country and community continued after his retirement from the military. John joined the Architect of the Capitol (AOC) in July 2011 as the Director of Equal Employment Opportunity and Diversity Programs (EEO/DP). As a result of his successful leadership and impactful work in EEO/DP, John was soon asked to join the Human Capital Management Division as Deputy Chief Human Capital Officer (CHCO) for Operations in November 2012. While in this position, John continued to grow intellectually. He earned a Master’s Degree in Organizational Leadership from Marymount University in 2014. He continued to work throughout his 10- month health battle and held the role of Deputy CHCO until God called him home.
John’s greatest passion, besides his family, was serving in the church. His love for God began at age 12 when he accepted Christ as his Lord and Savior. John faithfully served every church he attended. Most recently, he was actively involved at Grace Covenant Church in Chantilly, Virginia. He served in the youth, marriage, and small group ministries. In addition to his faith, family, and country, John had other enjoyments. He loved music: both R&B and Gospel. John tinkered with electronics, was an avid photographer, and loved to travel and attend concerts with DeeDee.
Additionally, fitness was important to him. He ran the Army 10-miler for several years. Although John valued staying in shape, he still enjoyed his sweet treats, which include red velvet cake and apple pie. John’s infectious spirit is carried on by his loving wife, DeeDee; his daughter and son-in-law, Sierra and Joshua Simmons (Frederick, Maryland); his grandsons, Kaleb and Kannon; his brother, George McPhaul, (Red Springs, North Carolina), his sister, Vickie Fairbanks (Greensboro, North Carolina); his 3 nephews, Christopher McPhaul (Columbia, South America) Roderrick McPhaul, (Chesapeake, Virginia - Active Duty Navy), Brian Fairbanks (Greensboro, North Carolina), and a multitude of other family and friends. John was preceded in death by his mother, Dorothy (1988) and his father, John Sr. (2010).
