Thomas M. McLaughlin

Thomas M. McLaughlin (January 13 1947 – December 5, 2010) was a US Air Force fighter pilot decorated for combat service in the Vietnam War, and face of the Time Person of the Year of 1966 representing the Baby Boomer generation.

Early life and Time Magazine appearance McLaughlin was born in Everett, Massachusetts in 1947. After graduating from Melrose High School, McLaughlin was admitted to study at Yale and majored in economics, and played American football and Lacrosse. Whilst at Yale McLaughlin was crossing campus one day when he was approached by a photographer working for Time magazine. The photograph taken was subsequently used by Time artist Robert Vickrey as the basis of the face used to illustrate the Time Man of the Year of 1966, which was dedicated to the generation then 25 years old and under. Vickrey changed the eye and hair color and made the face appear slightly younger. McLaughlin denied that Time's characterization of the Baby Boomer generation applied to him, stating that the only part of it that was true of him was that "I like Snoopy".

Vietnam War Following graduation from Yale in 1968, McLaughlin enlisted in the US Air Force and trained as a pilot.

FSB 31 was over-run by the PAVN. Writing in 1977, ARVN Major-General Nguyễn Duy Hinh stated that the base could possibly have been saved if air-support had not been diverted to the rescue effort.

McLaughlin also took part in the 1972 destruction of the Paul Doumer bridge over the Red River in North Vietnam.