Our walk today was dedicated in honor of:
Navy AX1 Billy Walker McGhee, Age 31 of Rockwood, TN.
MIA/KIA Feb. 6, 1968 Vietnam
On the morning of 05 Feb 1968, a P-3B aircraft (BuNo 153440) of Patrol Squadron 26 departed U-Tapao Air Base in Thailand for a 24-hour “Market Time” patrol over the Gulf of Thailand and the South Vietnamese coastline. The aircraft was manned by VP-26’s Crew Eight, normally based at NAS Brunswick, Maine, but on TDY to Southeast Asia. Shortly after midnight on the night of 5/6 Feb 68 the crew reported the first of a number of small surface contacts. Nothing was heard from Crew Eight after a final radio contact at 0300 06 Feb, and SAR efforts were begun after daybreak. Floating wreckage was located in the Gulf of Thailand about 65 miles southwest of Rach Gia, SVN. Salvage efforts began on 11 February and located the aircraft wreckage in about 100 feet of water, but divers were able to recover the bodies of only two of the twelve men aboard. Billy W. McGhee was one of the men whose bodies were recovered.
AX1 McGhee is buried at Oak Grove Cemetery in Rockwood, Tennessee. He is memorialized on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial on Panel 37E, Line 64
We had a great 5.78 Mile walk today. We walked up town on West Ave. and stopped by Boats & Harbors to see the big boat anchor and then we walked to the War Memorial Park where we read his name on the memorial wall. We then headed back to the house. I want to thank Highland Federal for flying our beautiful colors. I want to thank everyone who honked, waved, and saluted in helping me honor this hero. We had 165 honks. It was amazing. Thank You.
Navy AX1 Billy Walker McGhee will not be forgotten !
