Jump to content
Logging In to USMF has changed from using your USERNAME to requiring the EMAIL ADDRESS associated with your USMF account. Click to read more.

Another KIA Group, Saved from the Trash

Dave

By Dave,
in MEDALS & DECORATIONS

 Share

Recommended Posts

Dave

Dave

Posted
Posted

I picked this group up as a BIN on eBay from the seller who rescued it. Needless to say, the group has seen better days (FAR better days, in fact) but it is what it is. I plan on including this group in the Vietnam chapter of my book...not just because it's a more uncommon Air Force grouping, but also because of it's condition. We can all rest assured now that the group will cease to deteriorate as it's in the good and capable hands of collectors who appreciate it and who will look at it as a memorial to this career Air Force airman who lost his life in Vietnam.

 

Here's his bio, thanks to the Permian Basin Vietnam Veterans Memorial: http://www.veteransmemorial.us/bios/vwall/heroes.php?id=1088

 

BILLY WALLACE MCDONALD, STAFF SERGEANT, U.S. AIR FORCE, MARYNEAL, NOLAN COUNTY, TEXAS
AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Air Force Crewman Wings, Purple Heart, Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters, Air Force Commendation's Medal, Good Conduct Medal with 4 Bronze Loops, Air Force Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal with 1 Bronze Star, Air Force Longevity Service Ribbon with 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters, Air Force Expeditionary Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal
BIOGRAPHY
Billy was born in Sweetwater, Texas. He was the son of James Weldon and Florence McDonald. His family lived in Maryneal, Texas, a small agriculture town southwest of Sweetwater. He attended schools in Nolan,, Texas and last attended Divide High School in 1952. Nolan is another small agricultural community south of Sweetwater.
He dropped out after his junior year and entered the U.S. Air Force, completed basic training at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas and trained as an aircraft mechanic at Sheppard Air Force Base and at Bergstrom Air Force Base in Austin, Texas. He was assigned as a Apprentice Air Craft mechanic at Carswell Air Force Base, Fort Worth, Texas. He was then transferred to Dow Air Force Base in Maine until 1955 and then transferred back to Bergstrom Air Force Base in Austin. He discharged and re-enlisted in 1956 and served at Bergstom until 1962 when he re-enlisted. He received additional training at Sheppard Air Force Base, married Jeanne Marie Stout, his two children were born while stationed at Sheppard.
He was assigned to Tachikawa Air Force Base in Japan on flight status as a flight engineer on a HC-130 on April 9, 1964. On April 6, 1966, he re-enlisted and remained in Japan until May 16, 1967 when he was transferred to Pope Air Force Base in North Carolina and was assigned to the 779th Tactical Airlift Squadron as a flight engineer. He was assigned to Clark Air Force Base in the Philippines on April 2, 1969 and was assigned to the 773th Tactical Air Squadron.His unit was sent on temporary duty to Tans Son Nhut Air Force Base in Saigon.
On June 23, 1969, he was a flight engineer on a C-130, tail number 61-0965. The mission was a resupply flight to the Special Forces base at Katum. While flying at 3000 feet, the aircraft was hit in the port wing area by radar-controlled quad 50 caliber antiaircraft gunfire. The hits caused a fire and engine failure. The C-130 spun into the ground. The entire crew of six men were killed in the crash. Billy's body and three others were recovered shortly thereafter. The other two were not repatriated until 1995.
Billy was buried with full military honors in the Memorial Park Cemetery in Bastrop, Morehouse Parrish, Louisiana. He was awarded the Purple Heart and the Air Force Commendation's Medal posthumously. [Dave's note: it states he earned the Commendation Medal posthumously; I believe that was upgraded to the Distinguished Flying Cross]

 

mcdonald_168.JPG

mcdonald_169.JPG

Link to comment
Share on other sites
smwinter207

smwinter207

Posted
Posted

Hi

I can't image someone can put it to the trash ... really i don't understand ...

 

Thank god you get it !!

In April 1971, there were quit a few people throwing their medals away in Washington DC. I guess it is the interpretation of the holder.
Link to comment
Share on other sites
Dave

Dave

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Thanks for the comments, all!

I've communicated quite a bit with the lady I purchased this group from and here's the story:

 

She runs a company that builds storage sheds, about 45 minutes away from where I live. Some of the sheds they can't sell or are discontinued from their line, they lease them out as storage units on their property. In this case, a person had rented out a storage shed and stored their "stuff" in it. Over the period of several years, the lease payment became spotty and then stopped altogether. Fair warning was given that the shed and contents would be repossessed should the lease payments not be made and finally, they were. Being a small business and not wanting the headache of having to clean out the shed (they don't do storage unit auctions) they reached out again to the lessor and asked them to remove the contents. This time, they received a response and the person no longer wanted what was in the shed and no longer wanted to be bothered about it.

 

When the lady and her husband went to clean out the shed, they found these medals and set them aside. Once again, she reached out to the shed lessor and offered to return the medals, but received no reply. She then kept the medals for another two years, trying to figure out what to do with them. She reached out to a "Purple Heart organization that finds families" (I'm guessing Purple Hearts Reunited) and offered to send the group to them. However, the organization only wanted the Purple Hearts and didn't want the rest of the group so she didn't send it to them.

Finally, she decided to put it up on eBay in hopes that it would find a new home with a collector - and that it did!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share
Go to topic listing
×
×
  • Create New...