MAJ (Retired) Hubert U. McGuffin passed away May 18, 2016 at age 84, while a resident of Brookdale Assisted Living in Lawton, OK. Hubert "Mac" was born Feb. 14, 1932 in Laverty, OK to Urbin and Rosemary McGuffin. He graduated Chickasha High School in 1950 then enlisted in the USMC. He was stationed with the 1st Marines and sent to Korea for the first combat tour of his military career. In 1952, he married Mary Annette Russell. They had three daughters and were married for 62 years, until her death in Jan. 2015.

Mac left the Marines in 1954 and moved his family to Altus, OK. Life was difficult for a family of 5 on a butcher's salary, so he revisited the military by way of the Army. He was accepted into and graduated from the Ft. Sill Field Artillery OCS in Aug. 1960. He was an "old man" 2LT. From 1964-1967, Mac and family were stationed in Ansbach, Germany, where he was promoted to captain. He was the Battery XO of the 1/68 SGT. Missile Battalion, as well as the Battery CO, BN S4, BN S3, and BN XO of the 2/28th. In the latter unit, Mac filled a major's slot as a captain. It was during this tour, that one of his troops told Mary Ann how he really hated him during training but was very grateful that he prepared them well for war. It was one of her favorite stories about him.

From 1968-1969 Major Mac was the Operations Officer for the 6/15th 54th Field Artillery Group in Tay Ninh South Vietnam. During this tour of duty, he was awarded the bronze star for providing supporting fires for the Detachment B-32 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne). His second tour in Vietnam was from 1971-1972 and was 1-1/2 yrs. He was the Senior Advisor for Tinh Bien District, Chau Doc Province. His men were US soldiers, as well as a group of former Viet Cong referred to as "Kit Carson Scouts". He considered this the best job he ever had, and even in the latter months of his life he would reminisce fondly about this period in his career remembering by name all the men who served under him. (One could possibly put in here that there was some "Sneaky Pete" involvement, as he would say.) He was awarded The Legion of Merit for this period.

Mac was the Army Advisor to the Army National Guard in Lawton from 1973, until his retirement in 1977. Some additional awards include the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation with Palm, National Defense Service Medal with First Oak Leaf Cluster, Army Commendation Medal with First Oak Leaf Cluster, Bronze Star with First Oak Leaf Cluster, 5 Overseas Service Bars, and Combat Infantryman Badge.

After his military retirement, Mac spent time in Saudi Arabia training soldiers for their National Guard. This is where he first developed lung issues that would eventually lead to declining health. However, he liked telling the story of how the doc over there told him it was from "breathing in 4,000 years of camel dung".

For much of his life, Mac enjoyed hunting, fishing, rock/arrowhead hunting, and smoking meat. He became an avid reader in his 50s and was seldom without a book. He was fascinated with different cultures, religions, military history, and geology. He and his wife spent 37 yrs in the Robinson Landing community just north of Ft. Sill. He had a fairly close-up view of Mt. Scott, from his back porch. It was his little piece o' heaven. When his rheumatoid arthritis started limiting him, but he wanted to keep busy, he bought a ZTR and faithfully mowed the city-owned field between their place and Lake Lawtonka.

Mac is preceded in death by his parents, wife, and son-in-law Gary Sosnowski. Survivors include his daughters: Debbie McGuffin of Oklahoma City, OK; Gwendolyn Sosnowski of Yukon, OK; and Carol (CJ) Law of Lawrence KS; brother & sister-in-law Melvin & Barbara McGuffin of Lawton; aunt Martha Reed of Lawton; nephews/spouses: Stephen & JoAnn McGuffin of Edmond, OK; and Mark & Tammi McGuffin of Wichita Falls, TX. Mac left behind 5 grandchildren: Jason Sosnowski and Daely Sosnowski of Yukon, OK; Matthew Law of Lawrence, KS; Bethany Baum of Carbondale, KS; and Bart Jamison Law of Topeka, KS. He also had 3 great grandchildren: Alexis Lloyd of Yukon, OK; and Blake Baum and Kaleb Baum of KS. Mac would also want to include two of his longtime best friends (and former soldiers during his 2nd tour in Vietnam): Richard Vela of San Antonio, TX and Richard Sirois of Sacramento, CA.

On June 24, his ashes will be interred at the Ft Sill National Cemetery with full military honors, along with those of his late wife.