Alford McLaughlin was born on March 28, 1928, in Leeds, Alabama. He enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps on May 3, 1945, and completed basic training at MB Parris Island, South Carolina, in July 1945. Pvt McLaughlin attended Infantry training at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, from August to September 1945, and then remained at Camp Lejeune until deploying to Guam in December 1945. His next assignment was with A Battery, 1st Battalion of the 10th Marine Regiment on Occupation Duty in Japan, and at the Marine Barracks in Yokosuka, Japan, from March 1946 to August 1947. PFC McLaughlin served with 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment of the 2nd Marine Division at Camp Lejeune from August to December 1947, and then with 4th Marine Regiment, where he participated in Caribbean maneuvers from January to March 1948, and from February to March 1949. His next assignment was with the Marine Barracks at Camp Lejeune from April to June 1949, and then with the Marine Detachment at the U.S. Naval Disciplinary Barracks at Naval Base Portsmouth, New Hampshire, from July 1949 to September 1951. PFC McLaughlin transferred to Camp Pendleton, California, for additional training in September 1951, and he then deployed to Korea in February 1952, joining I Company, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment of the First Marine Division in June 1952. He was wounded during a battle on September 4-5, 1952, for which he would later be awarded the Medal of Honor, and he was transferred back to the United States in January 1953. Cpl McLaughlin arrived at Camp Lejeune in April 1953, and then served as a Military Police Officer with Headquarters 2nd Marine Division until July 1953. Sgt McLaughlin next served as a Machine Gun Unit Leader with the 4th Rifle Company of the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve at Rome, Georgia, from July 1953 to April 1956, followed by service as a Military Police Officer, Main Guard, Police Sergeant, and Battalion Police Sergeant with Headquarters Company at MCRD Parris Island, South Carolina, from April 1956 to June 1960. SSgt McLaughlin served as Company Gunnery Sergeant for Headquarters Company, 5th Marine Regiment of the 1st Marine Division at Camp Pendleton, California, from June 1960 to October 1962, and then as Troop Leader with Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Infantry Training Regiment at Camp Pendleton from October 1962 to January 1963. His next assignment was as Billeting NCO with Headquarters Company, 5th Marine Regiment of the 1st Marine Division at Camp Pendleton from January to July 1963, followed by service as Platoon Sergeant with Company C, 3rd Anti-Tank Battalion of the 3rd Marine Division in Okinawa from July 1963 to January 1964. He served as Battalion Police Sergeant with Headquarters & Service Company with the 3rd Anti-Tank Battalion from January to March 1964, and then returned to the United States where he served as an RTG Instructor with Headquarters Battery, 10th Marine Regiment of the 2nd Marine Division at Camp Lejeune from April 1964 to August 1965. MSgt McLaughlin was placed in the 1st Replacement Company at Camp Pendleton to prepare to deploy to Vietnam in August 1965, and he arrived in South Vietnam in October 1966. He served with Headquarters Company, 4th Marine Regiment of the 3rd Marine Division in South Vietnam from October 1966 to February 1967, and then with Headquarters Battalion (Fwd) of the 3rd Marine Division in South Vietnam from February to July 1967. His final assignment was as a Military Police Officer at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, from July 1967 until he left active duty on November 1, 1967. MSgt McLaughlin remained in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve until his retirement on August 1, 1975. Alford McLaughlin died on January 15, 1977, and was buried at the Mount Hebron Cemetery in Leeds, Alabama.

His Medal of Honor Citation reads:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a machine gunner of Company L, in action against enemy aggressor forces on the night of 4-5 September 1952. Volunteering for his second continuous tour of duty on a strategic combat outpost far in advance of the main line of resistance, Pfc. McLaughlin, although operating under a barrage of enemy artillery and mortar fire, set up plans for the defense of his position which proved decisive in the successful defense of the outpost. When hostile forces attacked in battalion strength during the night, he maintained a constant flow of devastating fire upon the enemy, alternately employing two machine guns, a carbine, and hand grenades. Although painfully wounded, he bravely fired the machine guns from the hip until his hands became blistered by the extreme heat of the weapons and, placing the guns on the ground to allow them to cool, continued to defend the position with his carbine and grenades. Standing up in full view, he shouted words of encouragement to his comrades above the din of battle and, throughout a series of fanatical enemy attacks, sprayed the surrounding area with deadly fire, accounting for an estimated 150 enemy dead and 50 wounded. By his indomitable courage, superb leadership, and valiant fighting spirit in the face of overwhelming odds, Pfc. McLaughlin served to inspire his fellow marines in their gallant stand against the enemy and was directly instrumental in preventing the vital outpost from falling into the hands of a determined and numerically superior hostile force. His outstanding heroism and unwavering devotion to duty reflect the highest credit upon himself and enhance the finest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service.