Helena soldier killed in Iraq

By Martin J. Kidston of Montana Lee Newspapers - 10/29/2005

Capt. Michael MacKinnon

HELENA — Nine months into his second combat tour, a soldier born and raised in Helena was killed by a roadside bomb Thursday in Iraq, the family announced Friday morning.

Capt. Michael MacKinnon, a 1993 graduate of Capital High School and a 1997 graduate of the West Point Military Academy, was killed at 7:21 a.m. Baghdad time, or 10:21 p.m. Mountain Time. He became the 10th Montana soldier to die serving in the 32-month-long war.

John MacKinnon was notified of his only son’s death at around 6 p.m. Thursday when a military representative and a member of the Helena Police Department arrived at his Wilder Street home. The two officials stayed until the chaplain arrived to console the family.

‘‘When I saw the military uniform come to the door, I knew what it was,’’ Mr. MacKinnon said. ‘‘I was just surprised they did that for the parents. He’s a married man, he’s got kids. I knew they did that with the wives.’’

Mr. MacKinnon recalled his son’s soldiering career — a career marked by rapid promotions and an allegiance to elite outfits including the 82nd Airborne with missions to Haiti and Egypt.

After serving with the Army Airborne, Capt. MacKinnon was assigned to the U.S. Army’s 3rd Infantry Division at Fort Stewart, Ga.

‘‘He went on the original invasion of Iraq,’’ Mr. MacKinnon said. ‘‘He was with them during that invasion, and he was there for eight months.’’

Capt. MacKinnon returned home after his first tour of duty in Iraq. As the war pressed on, however, his outfit was called back into service. Capt. MacKinnon returned to Iraq nine months ago.

Mr. MacKinnon said problems arose within a California National Guard brigade where several top commanders were either reassigned or relieved of service. To fill their position, Mr. MacKinnon explained, the Army had pulled Capt. MacKinnon from the 3rd Infantry Division to command A Company, First Battalion, 184th Infantry of the California National Guard.

He was with the outfit when he was killed Thursday.

‘‘It was a roadside bomb or an IED, and he was in a Humvee,’’ Mr. MacKinnon said. ‘‘They used to do a lot of routine patrols. They were always going on patrols.’’

Mr. MacKinnon couldn’t elaborate on the circumstance of his son’s death. The Army, he said, had yet to provide him with that information.

Instead, Mr. MacKinnon reflected briefly on his only son and the day he was born. The last of four children, he came into the world after the birth of his three sisters.

‘‘It was pretty exciting,’’ Mr. MacKinnon recalled. ‘‘It was great to finally have a son after three daughters. He was a typical kid, but a good boy. He was a good son.’’

Capt. MacKinnon’s older sister, Laura Sullivan, arrived at her father’s Helena home shortly after the chaplain. She heard the news when Capt. MacKinnon’s wife, Beth, called her earlier on Thursday.

‘‘My brother had always told his wife, ‘If something happens to me, call Laura,’’’ she said sadly. ‘‘She called me and I was heading up to tell Dad. When I got here, the soldier and the chaplain had already arrived.’’

Sullivan said her mother passed away when Capt. MacKinnon was young. His three older sisters had a big part in raising the boy. He played football, swam, and graduated valedictorian of his high-school class.

‘‘We took a role in helping out, feeling like he was our own kid a little bit,’’ Sullivan said. ‘‘This is a horrible thing. It kills me. He was one of the most lively people I ever knew. For my father, it’s devastating. He was just an amazing person.’’

His other two sisters, Diane Hulst, who lives in Helena, and Gail Maehl, who lives in Missoula, remembered their brother as an ambitious young man who followed through on his word. They praised their brother’s diligence to duty.

‘‘Michael was very driven and has accomplished more in his short life than most people do in a lifetime,’’ the two sisters said. ‘‘We always were, and continue to be, so very proud of him.’’

All three sisters said their brother’s passing will leave a hole in their heart. Yet, they said, if there is any consolation to his death, it’s that he died serving a cause he believed in.

‘‘There’s nobody here that has any rage or anger,’’ Sullivan said. ‘‘When he came home, he’d talk about the war — he believed in what he was doing. He felt he was making a difference. He said he belonged there and that they were all making a difference.’’

Brother-in-law Michael Sullivan said, ‘‘He was a very accomplished young man — a valedictorian, an Army Ranger, a captain on the fast-track who was serving his second tour. He was the ring-bearer in our wedding.’’

‘‘He was an exceptional soldier,’’ Laura added. ‘‘He was 100 percent American, apple pie and Chevrolet — what more can you say?’’ Helena Mayor Jim Smith was saddened by the news and extended his sympathies to the family on the city’s behalf.

‘‘All of us extend our sympathies to this young man’s family,’’ Smith said. ‘‘Every one of us will await his return. We’d like to stand with his family and welcome his young spirit home.’’

Sullivan said the family was unsure what Capt. MacKinnon had requested in regards to his own burial. The body is expected home in 10 days and may go to either Helena or West Point.

She said the family was working through that issue while consoling Beth, the soldier’s wife.

‘‘If he does have a West Point funeral, we’ll still have something here as well,’’ Sullivan said. ‘‘But right now, we just don’t know.’’

Reporter Martin Kidston can be reached at 447-4086, or at mkidston@helenair.com