Remembering Captain Mary Therese Klinker, USAFAmong the records cared for by Preservation Programs i

Remembering Captain Mary Therese Klinker, USAFAmong the recordscared for by Preservation Programs in St. Louis are those in the Persons ofExceptional Prominence. These records are prepared by preservation staff,treated if needed, and digitized. These records tend to be in higher demand forreference requests, so digitization allows better preservation by offering asurrogate copy and decreasing handling of the records. Among the records wehave treated and digitized is that of Captain Mary Therese Klinker, UnitedStates Air Force. Indiana native Capt.Klinker joined the Air Force Reserve in 1969 as a flight nurse, instructor, andflight examiner. In 1974, while assigned to Clark Air Force Base in thePhilippines, she volunteered to assist in the inaugural mission of OperationBabylift. The goal of this special mission, ordered by President Gerald Ford, was to evacuate thousands of orphaned babies from SouthVietnam to adoptive parents in the US as the Vietnam War was ending. After the first planetook off carrying 314 persons and infants, there was anexplosion and the cabin lost pressure. The pilots attempted to turn back, butcrash landed short of the runway. 138 persons were killed in the crash. Asdocumented in her personnel record, Capt. Klinker “was in the bottom of theaircraft, working with the war orphans right up to the moment of the crash.”First declared missing, Capt. Klinker’s remains were identified and confirmedseveral days later. On this Memorial Daywe honor Captain Klinker and all others who gave their lives in service of ourcountry. We are honored to preserve their records ofservice and ensure for all futuregenerations. -- source link

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