On 12 February 2016 at 10am, the lost military medals of WWII hero PFC Nolan McKinney were returned to his nephew at their family home in Lake Elsinore, CA.
Private First Class (PFC) Nolan McKinney (Service Number: 320082) was born 16 June 1924 to Ernest F. and Maude Lemon Cagle McKinney in Texas. He had three sisters, Helen, Laura, and Iris. The family would eventually move to Harrison, Boone County, Arkansas. He would later enlist into the United States Marine Corps and saw service in the Philippines during WWII. During combat operations on Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, PFC McKinney was Killed in Action on 22 November 1942. His body was never recovered and first listed as Missing in Action. The War department later determined he would have been a casualty. He was the first Boone County, Arkansas casualty of WWII. He is buried in the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial located at Metro Manila, Philippines.
His medals and decorations include the Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, American Defense Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with bronze service star, World War II Victory Medal, and Presidential Unit Citation.
The medals were discovered in a Goodwill Store in Albuquerque, New Mexico. A lady who works at the Goodwill, contacted Mr. Michael Azeltine, Commander of Chapter 176, Military Order of the Purple Heart at a local fundraiser and inquired if he knew how to help return the medal to the family. Mr. Azeltine quickly contacted Purple Hearts Reunited and they were able to track down PFC McKinney’s nephew.
His sister Helen’s son, Mr. Rocky Snider, received the medals on behalf of his family.