Flags lowered to honor Vietnam War MIA airman

May 23, 2012

Flags lowered to honor Vietnam War MIA airman

Under a proclamation signed by Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn, the United States flag and the Illinois flag are to be at half-staff at all State of Illinois facilities in honor of a Vietnam War airman missing in action for nearly 40 years.

Flags are to be flown at half-staff from sunrise Sunday, May 27, until sunset, Tuesday, May 29, in honor of U.S. Air Force Capt. George Duncan MacDonald of Evanston.

A full military memorial service honoring MacDonald will be at 1 p.m., May 29, at Arlington National Cemetery.  MacDonald began his tour of duty in Vietnam in July 1972, and was 24 when he was shot down while supporting combat operations in December 1972, according to a proclamation by Quinn.

A 1967 graduate of Evanston High School, MacDonald graduated from The Ohio State University in 1971.  While in college he ran track and earned “Airman of the Year” from his ROTC unit at graduation.  He entered the Air Force in June 1971, according to reports.