Veterans' Memorial Project

Gerald Eugene McKay

Grayslake, IL

Vietnam War

College: Agricultural, Consumer & Environmental Sciences

Graduation Year: 1955

Service Branch: Army

Rank: Lieutenant Colonel

Date of Birth: 08/13/1933

Date of Death: 04/27/1970

Affiliations: Tau Kappa Epsilon; Army ROTC

Lt. Col. McKay was killed when the aircraft in which he was a passenger was downed by hostile ground fire. Col. McKay was serving as commanding officer of the 3rd Battalion, 12th Infantry, 4th Infantry Division in Vietnam’s Central Highlands (in Pleiku), South Vietnam. Prior to going to Vietnam, he served since 1967 as assistant Army attache at the U.S. Embassy in London. Earlier assignments included those of secretary of the general staff at headquarters of the 18th Corps, Ft. Bragg, NC and secretary of the joint staff at headquarters of U.S. Forces in the Dominican Republic. Col. McKay also commanded companies in the 82nd Airborne Division, Ft. Bragg, and the 3rd Infantry, Ft. Myer, VA. Among Col. McKay’s decorations were the Legion of Merit and the Bronze Star Medal. He was Ranger qualified and a senior parachutist.

– taken from Alumni Association archives

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