11/22/1967
SP5 Melbern Dean Moore and SP6 Paul Blount McKinley were killed on 22 November 1967. They were assigned to 191st Ordnance Battalion (Ammunition), Explosive Disposal Section, 54th General Support Group, Army Support Command Cam Ranh Bay, 1st Logistical Command, Cam Ranh Bay, Khanh Hoa Province, Republic of Vietnam. SP5 Moore and SP6 McKinley (the driver) were in route to an incident at Thien Giao north of Phan Thiet, Binh Thuan Province, Republic of Vietnam. A Special Forces camp had been mortared the night before. They were five miles north of Phan Thiet on Highway 8 and had just passed over a bridge onto a narrow stretch of gravel road when a command-detonated mine detonated beneath their ¼-ton jeep, killing them instantly. The mine consisted of a U.S. 105mm projectile. The road was unsecured, but was heavily traveled. It was felt by those investigate the incident that the attack was not directed directly against Explosive Ordnance Disposal personnel. SP5 Moore was posthumously awarded the Silver Star Medal for his activities in Vietnam and the Purple Heart Medal.
*This bio was researched and authored by SGM Mike R.Vining, USA (Retired). Please send any additional information and/or corrections to the author of this bio by email: sgmmvining@gmail.com. The EOD Warrior Foundation is not responsible for the accuracy of the information in bio.