| Major D.M. McConnell US Army Retired (Just Call Me "Mac") |
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| I returned to the States in the spring of 1952 and attended Artillery Officers Basic Course then on to Fort Chaffee, Arkansas serving as Commanding Officer of "A" Company Forty Fifth Armored Infantry Battalion. February 1954, I began flight training at Gary Air Force Base, San Marcus, Texas. On to Ft Sill, Oklahoma for advanced flight training. After receiving my wings there was a hard earned leave before departing for Hanau, Germany where I flew my first hour as an army aviator. February 1957 I returned to Ft Sill, Oklahoma and acquired a fixed wing instrument rating and completed several courses of instruction including; Helicopter, Aviation Staff Officer Course and Artillery Officers Advanced Course. 1960-1963 I was assigned to XVI Corps Headquarters, Omaha Nebraska. Another school in Fort Eustes,Virginia the Aircraft Maintenance Officers Course before being assigned to First Infantry Division Fort Riley, Kansas this was during the Cuban crisis. Then on to Fort Benning, Georgia and the Eleventh Air Assault Division (Test). September 1964 I was involved in a flight training accident and spent four months as a patient in the burn center at Brooks Medical Center, San Antonio, Texas. Then back to Fort Benning where in April of 1965 I was given the command of a newly organized unit, the 166th Transportation Cargo Helicopter Field Maintenance Detachment. The unit was attached to "A" Company 82nd Aviation Battalion, the 1st day of May 1965 aboard the USS Iwo Jima we arrived at Vung Tau, South Vietnam. We soon moved to Bien Hoa and was attached to the 173rd Airborne Brigade. |
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| National Order of Battlefield Commissions (Mustang Officers Patch) |
| When I was seventeen years and five days I joined the United States Navy. This was April the 18th 1943. This three year experience taught me many things about the world, people and myself. However, the main thing it taught me was how much more I needed to learn. |
| 1945 Oakland CA. |
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| Therefore, when I returned home in 1946 I finished high school and joined the Oklahoma National Guard (Forty Fifth Infantry Division). On September 1, 1950 we were federally mobilized. The division was sent to Fort Polk, Louisiana for training and from there to Hokaido, Japan. It was from Japan that we entered Korea via the port of Inchon. By this time I was a field artillery firing battery first sergeant. Three months after arriving in Korea I was offered and I accepted a direct (battlefield) commission. I spent the rest of my tour of duty as a forward observer in North Korea. |
| Korea 1952, receiving Battlefield Commision |
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| Vietnam War |
| Veteran |
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| April 1966 I left Vietnam to return to the states and a new assignment at Fort Wolters Primary Helicopter School at Mineral Wells, Texas as an instructor pilot. August 31, 1967 I retired from the United States Army. |