Jerome "Jerry" M. McCabe, 84, of California, MD, a retired US Army colonel and decorated veteran of three wars, died on August 27 at his home.

Mr. McCabe was a member of the so-called "Chosin Few," the remnants of a pivotal but largely unrecognized Army regimental combat team that helped hold off the Chinese invasion at the Chosin Reservoir during the Korean Conflict in the cold winter of 1950. He received serious wounds in that action in which around 1500 Army troops died. Only 385 combat-able troops survived. (See "50 Years Later: Army Heroes Get There Due," Steve Vogel, Washington Post, December 11, 2000, page B5.) His career in the US Army included assignments and tours of combat duty in Korea (twice), Germany, the US War College in Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas, the Pentagon, the Spanish War College, Viet Nam and Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland where he retired as a full colonel in September 1973 after 30 years of service. At the Spanish War College, he was one of the chief negotiators for the Base Rights Agreement with Spain. He spoke German and Spanish. His son, J. Michael McCabe of California, Maryland, described his father as having "command presence." After his US Army career, he worked as a defense contractor in Rosslyn, Virginia.

In retirement, he pursued charitable initiatives and was active in the St. Vincent de Paul Society and a local food pantry. He volunteered at the Veterans Home in Charlotte Hall, Maryland. He was a 30-year member of St. Aloysius Catholic Church in Leonardtown, Maryland.

Jerome M. McCabe was born July 20, 1926 in Baltimore, Maryland. He attended Baltimore Polytechnical Institute High School, then Calvert Hall High School where he pursued an accelerated high school degree program in order to enlist in the US Army Air Corps in spring 1943. He graduated from the University of Georgia with a degree in Mathematical Education in May 1958. He received a Masters in Business Administration from Babson College in May, 1963.

Survivors include his wife of 61 years, Peggy Duggins McCabe, also from Baltimore; J. Michael McCabe of California, Maryland, Patricia Ruppert of Laytonsville, Maryland, Timothy McCabe of Phoenix, Arizona, Mark McCabe of Fountain Valley, California, Peter McCabe of Ashburn, Virginia; a sister; 16 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren.

Family will receive friends on Thursday, September 2, 2010 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the Brinsfield Funeral Home, P.A., where prayers will be recited at 7 p.m. A Memorial Mass will be celebrated on Friday, September 3, 2010 at 11 a.m. at St. Aloysius Catholic Church, Leonardtown, MD with Father John Dakes officiating. Inurnment St. Aloysius Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of St. Mary's, Inc., P.O. Box 625, Leonardtown, MD 20650, Father Andrew White School, P.O. Box 1756, Leonardtown, MD 20650, and/or St. John Francis Regis School, 43900 St. John's Rd., Hollywood, MD 20636.

Arrangements provided by Brinsfield Funeral Home, P.A.