Semper Fidelis, General

BGEN Ed McMahon, USAF(Ret) passed away this morning aboard Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles.

Everyone remembers Ed McMahon as the host of Star Search, TV's Bloopers and Practical Jokes, and as Johnny Carson's sidekick The Tonight Show. He was also the guy who shows up at your door unexpectedly to give you a big check from Publishers Clearing House.

He had other roles as well:

- Decorated WWII U.S. Marine Corps fighter pilot, test pilot and flight instructor

- Decorated Korean Conflict USMC aerial observer and artillery spotter

- Retired Colonel, United States Marine Corps

- Brigadier General, California Air National Guard

- Dedicated Husband

-Loving Father to three sons and three daughters

He was, evidently, a man as any other. He was apparently frivolous with his money and became cranky in his elder years. He also became lawsuit happy over the past several years, and physically infirm.

But General McMahon is also proof of the many things a person can accomplish through hard work and perseverence. He is also proof that celebrities do not need to vocalize personal beliefs incessantly and do know how to live paparazzi-free lives, should they so choose.

Today I think of this Marine, this veteran of two of the three largest, bloodiest conflicts in the past century, American Icon and all-around regular Joe.

General McMahon is survived by his current wife, two sons and three daughters.