John R. McKinney

Infobox Military Person
name= John R. McKinney
born= birth date|1921|2|26
died= death date and age|1997|4|4|1921|2|26
placeofbirth= Woodcliff, Georgia
placeofdeath= Sylvania, Georgia
placeofburial=


caption= John R. McKinney
nickname=
allegiance= United States of America
branch= United States Army
serviceyears=
rank= Sergeant
commands=
unit= Company A, 123d Infantry, 33d Infantry Division
battles= World War II
awards= Medal of Honor
laterwork=

John R. McKinney was a United States soldier who received the Medal of Honor in World War II during the campaign to recapture the Philippines from Japanese forces in 1945. Against superior numbers, McKinney single-handedly was able to secure a crucial battlefield area before reinforcements arrived. He was presented the Medal in a White House ceremony by President Harry S. Truman on January 23, 1946.

Medal of Honor citation

McKinney, John R.
"
Rank and organization:" Sergeant (then Private), U.S. Army, Company A, 123d Infantry, 33d Infantry Division
"
Place and date:" Tayabas Province, Luzon, Philippine Islands, 11 May 1945
"
Entered service at:"Woodcliff, Georgia
"
Citation:
"

Legacy

The State of Georgia renamed a highway "The John R. McKinney Medal of Honor Highway" in his honor.

Bibliography

Forrest Bryant Johnson, "Phantom Warrior: The Heroic True Story of Pvt. John McKinney's One-Man Stand Against the Japanese in World War II" (Berkley, 2007)

External links

*findagrave|7808461 Retrieved on 2008-01-31
* [http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/1995_96/leg/fulltext/hr501.htm Georgia State Legislature for the John R. McKinney Highway]
* [http://www.pritzkermilitarylibrary.org/events/2008-01-17-forrestBryantJohnson.jsp Interview] with Forrest Bryant Johnson on McKinney at the Pritzker Military Library