More detail on this person: Mackinnon, 77, who was a retired Major General in the U.S. Army, died Wednesday, June 7, 2000, at his home in Fort Worth. Funeral: Service pending in Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery. Memorials: In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Army Relief Fund. Robert Neale Mackinnon was born in Baggio, the Philippine Islands on May 25, 1923, the son of Col. William and Edith Mackinnon. He graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., in June 1945. He served in World War II, in the Philippine Island Campaign and with the Army of Occupation in Japan, 1945-1946. He served in the Korean War as a company commander in 1950-1951. He also served in Vietnam as a brigade commander in the 1st Cavalry Division in 1968-1969. He was commanding general of the Primary Helicopter Training Center at Ft. Wolters, Texas (Mineral Wells) from 1969-1971. He was commanding general of the 1st Aviation Brigade in Vietnam, 1971-1972, and commanding general of the 25th Infantry Division at Schofield Barracks Hawaii, 1972-1974. He was vice president of Bell Helicopter International managing operations in Iran from 1976-1979, and president of Aerospatiale Helicopter Corporation from 1980-1983. Major General Robert Neale Mackinnon was awarded numerous decorations for valor in combat, including the Silver Star, Branze Star(3), Air Medals (4), Master Army Aviator, Master Jump Wings(Airborne), multiple awards of the Combat Infantryman's Badge. Survivors: He is survived by his wife, Nancy, of Fort Worth; sons, William C. and his wife, Leslie, of Atlanta, Ga., Stephen R., and wife, Ellen, of Woodbridge, Va., Thomas D. of Dallas, and Robert M., and wife, Elizabeth of Dallas; along with grandsons, Jeffery N. , Patrick R., Ian R., Elliot C., and granddaughter, Annelise C. Despite an autopsy and much time to analyze, the coroner was unable to determine the cause of death. Dad had been diagnosed with a "left bundle branch block" many years before, but he seemed to think it was of little consequence. We have gotten mixed opinions about its seriousness. He had a series of sinus infections over the years that resulted in several surgeries to clean out the sinuses. This was no longer medically advisable and he had some kind of "treatment" the day he died. To our knowledge he had no other life-threatening conditions and was in reasonably good health. Hence , the State of Texas required the autopsy. I wish we knew. From: Bill Mackinnon
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Date posted on this site: 03/10/2024
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