About
John Lee McElroy, the son of Oscar and Cora (Rice) McElroy, was born on May 29, 1932, in Kentucky. He graduated from the University of Kentucky and then relocated to Schenectady to work for General Electric.
On March 13, 1956, John enlisted in the United States Air Force. He held the rank of Major and served with the 774th Tactical Airlift Squadron, 463rd Tactical Airlift Wing, 7th Air Force. John was a navigator on a C-130 B Hercules during Operation Rolling Thunder; on May 12, 1968, he was evacuating personnel from a military post that was being overrun by hostile forces when his plane was shot down. John is remembered at Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia and Hillcrest Memorial Park, Kentucky.
Sources: The Schenectady Gazette, Find A Grave, Ancestry
"Keep a little fire burning; however small, however hidden."
~Cormac McCarthy
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.
For the Fallen
Laurence Binyon