Tom McKinney served 2 tours to Da Nang, Vietnam
MADISON – While growing up in Greensboro, N.C., Paul T. ‘Tom’ McKinney felt a real sense of pride for relatives who had served in the Armed Forces. Before graduating from high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps and advanced his education in the USMC Air Wing.
After Basic Training at Parris Island, S.C. in 1963, McKinney was assigned to Camp Geiger, N.C. for Advanced Infantry Training. “I learned, regardless of your ultimate job assignment, a Marine was always an Infantry Rifleman first,” he said.
With Marine Air Wing, McKinney was assigned to Navy/Marine Aviation Ordnance School in Jacksonville, Fla. With two Marines in the 50-member class, McKinney narrowly finished second to his Marine buddy. “It gave the Marines bragging rights over their Sailor comrades,” he said.
At Cherry Point, N.C., NC McKinney was assigned to VMFA 115, a Squadron of F4B Phantom fighter/attack jet aircraft, involving bombs, rockets and missiles. “The ordnance crew dealt with things that go ‘BOOM.’ If those things failed to go ‘BOOM,’ other Marines could be in jeopardy,” he said.
His Squadron deployed to Atsugi, Japan. Its next destination was Da Nang, Vietnam. McKinney armed aircraft with 250-, 500- and 1,000-pound bombs, along with rocket pods and Sidewinder and Sparrow3 missiles.
Next, McKinney’s Squadron moved to Iwakuni, Japan. He visited Hiroshima’s ground zero, along with Bangkok, Thailand.
By 1965, McKinney deployed as a Sergeant for a second tour to Da Nang. He then was stationed at Beaufort, N.C.; Key West, Fla.; and Yuma, Ariz. As a Marine Sergeant, McKinney was released from active duty in 1967.
McKinney learned quickly about the war’s unpopularity. “I’ll never forget the six Marines in my unit that lost their lives in Vietnam, nor 58,000-plus memorialized on the ‘Wall,'” he said.
Tom married longtime girlfriend, Sandra, in 1968. Tom and Sandra had two sons , Paul and Jason. Tom earned a bachelor’s degree in business management at Guilford College in 1971.
Tom worked as Director of Data Systems for Greensboro Police Department, along with Planning Research Corporation, McLean, Va.; and 50-plus first-responder agencies in United States, Canada and Europe, including Intergraph Corporation.
In 1981, the McKinneys founded their own business, McKinney and Associates Inc. They worked as subcontractors to Northrop Grumman.
Unfortunately, tragedy has affected the McKinneys’ life. Both sons died due to accidents within 18 months of each other in the 2007-2008 timeframe. They greatly enjoy two grandsons –one from each son.
In 2018, Tom and Sandra will celebrate their 50th anniversary.
The McKinneys enjoy sports, traveling, reading and ‘hanging out.’ Tom is active with American Legion, Post 229; Sandra is helping to establish a post auxiliary.
