Eugene Phillip McKinney - KIA

Preferred Name: Eugene
Date of Birth: January 12, 1940
Highest Military Grade: 0-3 – Captain
Hometown: Jefferson City, MO
Headed West Date: March 24, 1968

The Air Force reported that Capt. Eugene P. McKinney had finished his third bombing run flying F-100D (#56-3152) when his aircraft was hit by ground fire near An Nhon, 8 miles southeast of Phu Cat Air Base. The plane exploded and crashed and McKinney was killed.

The 28-year-old flier was born Jan. 12, 1940 the son of G. T. and Mary Blume McKinney. He was a graduate of Helias High School and attended Lincoln University. He entered the Air Force in 1959 at Lackland Air Force Base, Tex., and was commissioned on graduation from navigator school at Harlingen, Tex. in 1960. He was promoted to captain in March, 1965 and graduated from pilot training with honors in fighter-bomber tactics in May, 1967.

Eugene had been overseas since February 8. He is survived by his wife, the former, Miss Susie Jordan, and four children, Cindy, Shari, Jimmy and Craig, who reside on Henwick Lane. Mrs. McKinney is expecting their fifth child.

Also surviving are: his mother, of 708 Stadium Drive; three brothers, G.T. (Tom) McKinney, Gary P. McKinney and Dennis M. McKinney, all of Jefferson City; his maternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Herbert E. Blume, Jefferson City; and his paternal grandmother, of the State of California. Memorial services are pending word from Whiteman Air Force Base. (Daily Capital News, Jefferson City, MO, Wednesday, March 27, 1968, p. 2, Col. 6-7)

Eugene McKinney is buried at the Resurrection Cemetery and Mausoleum in Jefferson City, Cole County, Missouri, USA, and is honored on the Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial in Washington DC. His name is inscribed at VVM Wall, Panel 46e, Line 9.

Source: Photo/Bio info – HonorStates.org; Findagrave.com; TheWallofFaces.org