James M. McHugh
Encyclopedia
James M. McHugh was born in Nevada, Missouri graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy
in 1922. Following training at Quantico
he went to China
in 1923 to study the country and its language. His father-in-law, Jacob Gould Schurman, who was president of Cornell University
from 1892–1920, was then American minister to China.
McHugh spent over twenty years in China, where he served as intelligence officer for the 4th Marines and U.S. Asiatic Fleet, Shanghai, from 1933–1935, became special Assistant Naval Attaché, American Embassy at Nanking, Hankow, and Chungking. He was Naval Attaché and Naval Attaché for Air from 1940–1943, serving as a special representative of Secretary of the Navy Frank Knox
to Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek
, with whom he was a close friend.
For his work in this capacity he was awarded the Legion of Merit
. He was officer in charge of the Far East Secret Intelligence and served on the staff of the Fifth Amphibious Corps (G-5), was sent to Guam
in 1944 to help plan the attack on Iwo Jima
. An attack of malaria led to his recall in 1943; after which he was assigned to Navy Department, to one of the forerunners of the present CIA.
After retirement in 1946, he was an economic consultant for corporations having interest in the Far East, including Jardine, Matheson & Co. (Hong Kong), and Balfour, Guthrie & Co. (New York).
United States Naval Academy
The United States Naval Academy is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located in Annapolis, Maryland, United States...
in 1922. Following training at Quantico
Quantico
Quantico may refer to:* Quantico , a 2005 science fiction/thriller novel by Greg Bear* Quantico, Maryland, an unincorporated community in Wicomico County, Maryland, United States...
he went to China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
in 1923 to study the country and its language. His father-in-law, Jacob Gould Schurman, who was president of Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
from 1892–1920, was then American minister to China.
McHugh spent over twenty years in China, where he served as intelligence officer for the 4th Marines and U.S. Asiatic Fleet, Shanghai, from 1933–1935, became special Assistant Naval Attaché, American Embassy at Nanking, Hankow, and Chungking. He was Naval Attaché and Naval Attaché for Air from 1940–1943, serving as a special representative of Secretary of the Navy Frank Knox
Frank Knox
-External links:...
to Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek
Chiang Kai-shek
Chiang Kai-shek was a political and military leader of 20th century China. He is known as Jiǎng Jièshí or Jiǎng Zhōngzhèng in Mandarin....
, with whom he was a close friend.
For his work in this capacity he was awarded the Legion of Merit
Legion of Merit
The Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces that is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements...
. He was officer in charge of the Far East Secret Intelligence and served on the staff of the Fifth Amphibious Corps (G-5), was sent to Guam
Guam
Guam is an organized, unincorporated territory of the United States located in the western Pacific Ocean. It is one of five U.S. territories with an established civilian government. Guam is listed as one of 16 Non-Self-Governing Territories by the Special Committee on Decolonization of the United...
in 1944 to help plan the attack on Iwo Jima
Iwo Jima
Iwo Jima, officially , is an island of the Japanese Volcano Islands chain, which lie south of the Ogasawara Islands and together with them form the Ogasawara Archipelago. The island is located south of mainland Tokyo and administered as part of Ogasawara, one of eight villages of Tokyo...
. An attack of malaria led to his recall in 1943; after which he was assigned to Navy Department, to one of the forerunners of the present CIA.
After retirement in 1946, he was an economic consultant for corporations having interest in the Far East, including Jardine, Matheson & Co. (Hong Kong), and Balfour, Guthrie & Co. (New York).