Grave of Jimmy McKinley
During an era when the President of the United States did not apologize for being American, the United States made war against North Vietnam. Beginning in 1965 American involvement in the war escalated dramatically and over the next ten years a variety of political actors and theories moved across the stage of this international drama.
Jack Elliott Clemmons left Atmore, Alabama along with his best friend and other young men by bus in August 1965 bound for the Vietnam War. As the sparkling silver greyhound rounded the corner and departed from the old bus station the innocence of the American summer accompanied the young men as they headed for a foreign destination whose final arrival would deliver a divisive winter for the people of the country.
For many of these young men, every memory was contained in the rustic surroundings which they left behind. Whether it was a childhood riding bicycles to Blackstock's store in Canoe for a coca-cola or fishing along a creek bank, these memories would be the source of countless dreams as they slept on a lonely, sweat soaked cot or bunk in Vietnam for the next year.
In Atmore and the surrounding countryside the Southern population generally supported the war and felt compelled by patriotism to back their country right or wrong.
Many would enlist to fight the war and others were drafted by the federal government to go and fight. Other areas of the country were not as united. In San Francisco, many opposed the war. Some sought college deferments to avoid the war, some went to Canada, and others simply refused to go. Many of these objectors would not die for their country but were content to let other young men do the dying for them.
Among those who enlisted to fight their nation's war was James Marion McKinley from Davisville, Florida. Jimmy as he was called, was the only child of Joe and Edna McKinley. Joe fought in World War II. Joe McKinley died in 1959 leaving his wife and young Jimmy behind.
Jimmy McKinley enlisted in the US Army sometime around 1967-68 and arrived in Vietnam as a medic. The Vietnam War saw the fewest number of American deaths from battlefield injuries per ratio of any war in the history of the nation because of the daring and resourceful work of medics and air ambulance personnel who would move rapidly to stabilize the wounded and evacuate them to field hospitals by air.
McKinley found himself assigned to Company A, 2nd battalion, of the 5th Air Cavalry Regiment of the 1st Air Cavalry Division. The 1st and 2nd Battalions of the 5th US Cavalry made up the 2nd Brigade, 1st Air Cavalry Division, Airmobile during the war. These were primarily infantry units.
The 5th Air Cavalry had a long and distinguished history even before the Vietnam War. The original 5th Cavalry Regiment was formed in 1855 and hand-picked by then Secretary of War Jefferson Davis. Lt. Colonel Robert E. Lee of the US Army commanded the force from July 1857 until April 1861.
By March 28, 1969 the 5 th Air Cav 2nd Battalion was in the province of Tay Ninh in South Vietnam. Later that afternoon, McKinley's unit, Company A, which was also called Lean Apache along with Company C (also called Comanche Company) moved by helicopter to Landing Zone (LZ) Barbara and LZ Jess, which was located deep in the jungle.
At 9:15 AM, on the 29th the two companies linked up and were heavily engaged against the North Vietnamese at a bunker complex just inside the wood line from LZ Jess. The firefight continued all day. Comanche Company suffered 2 killed in action during the fighting.
Company A-Lean Apache suffered heavy casualties that day. The assault near LZ Jess cost Company A eight men, two of whom received posthumous awards of the Distinguished Service Cross. For twenty year old Jimmy McKinley the war would end that day.
As Corporal Jimmy McKinley worked to shield wounded and dying men from the enemy fire raining down on his position he was struck and killed by an enemy round. The battle continued until 7pm when the American forces secured the area.
Later a heartbroken family received Cpl. Jimmy McKinley's final remains which were laid to rest at the Bratt Godwin Cemetery at Bratt, Florida. The loss of this only son left a grieving mother with the solace of her son's sacrifice for others and his posthumous medal as his final mark on the world .
Available now: The Butler Street Chronicles; Selected histories of the communities surrounding Butler Street and will include information on settlers at Steadham, Pond Fork, Sizemore, Sardine, Butler Street, Hollinger and other communities along this route. Pick up your copy for $15. Copies can be published from the author or at Amazon.com or Lulu.com.
Vote for and support the Canoe Landmark District referendum on the 2020 ballot. Call for more details.
Shadows and Dust Volume III: Legacies is available for purchase in the amount of $30.00+$5.00 shipping and handling to PO Box 579 Atmore, AL 36502 or visit Lulu Publishing.com; Amazon.com, Barnes and Nobles.com OR at the Monroe County Heritage Museum in Monroeville, Alabama or by calling 251 294 0293.
