Edwin Joseph MacNamara – Major, United States Army

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EDWIN JOSEPH MACNAMARA was born on July 18, 1928 and joined the Armed Forces while in PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

He served in the United States Army.  In 12 years of service, he attained the rank of MAJOR. He began a tour of duty on Vietnam on June 20, 1966.

On July 3, 1966, at the age of 37, EDWIN JOSEPH MACNAMARA perished in the service of our country in South Vietnam.

Macnamara, Edwin Joseph
Born 08/18/1928, Died  07/03/1966
US Army, Major
Section 35, Grave3269, buried 07/26/1966

Macnamara, Ann Donahoe
Born 09/22/1929, Died. 08/17/1999
US Navy, SOM1,
Res: Carlisle, Pennsylvnaia
Sction 35, Grave 3269, buried 08/26/1999

MACNAMARA, EDWIN JOSEPH
MAJ   US ARMY

  • VETERAN SERVICE DATES: 04/02/1960 – 07/03/1966
  • DATE OF BIRTH: 08/18/1928
  • DATE OF DEATH: 07/03/1966
  • DATE OF INTERMENT: 07/26/1966
  • BURIED AT: SECTION 35  SITE 3269
    ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY

MACNAMARA, ANN DONAHOE

  • DATE OF BIRTH: 09/22/1929
  • DATE OF DEATH: 08/17/1999
  • DATE OF INTERMENT: 08/26/1999
  • BURIED AT: SECTION 35  SITE 3269
    ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY
  • WIFE OF MACNAMARA, EDWIN JOSEPH  MAJ  US ARMY

On 3 July 1966, MSgt. Ralph J. Reno and SSgt. Donald Fawcett were assigned to Reconnaissance Team (RT) Nevada, MACV-SOG. The two Americans and their 10 Nung strikers were being transported from Kham Duc Forward Operating Base (FOB) located near the South Vietnamese/Lao border to Kontum on board a South  Vietnamese UH34 Seahorse, call sign “Kingbee.” Also onboard the helicopter was operations officer Capt. Edwin MacNamara.

When the Seahorse was flying over the extremely rugged jungle covered mountains approximately 16 miles southeast of Kham Duc and 57 miles north-northwest of Kontum, the aircraft hit severe air turbulence. The UH34's tail, which was designed to pivot for storage on aircraft carriers, had come loose, swung around and chewed the helicopter to pieces in midair. It fell over 1,500 feet in a tight spiral ejecting its passengers, crew and debris over a large area.

Over the next five days, an extensive ground and aerial search and rescue (SAR) operation was conducted. Search personnel were able to locate and recover the remains of Capt. MacNamara, SSgt. Fawcett and five Asians. The bodies of the Americans were transported to a military mortuary where they were positively identified, then returned to the men's families. The search personnel found no sign of MSgt. Reno or the remaining seven Asians. At the time the formal SAR was terminated, Ralph Reno was immediately listed Killed in Action/Body Not Recovered.

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