Marvin Donald McKinley

These awards are based on the information below and per applicable DoD Directives and Awards Manuals:
Purple Heart Awarded to any member of the Armed Forces of the United States who, while serving under competent authority in any capacity with one of the U.S. Armed Forces, after April 5, 1917, has been wounded, killed, or who has died or may hereafter die of wounds received in action against an enemy of the United States.
American Campaign Service Medal Awarded for military service within the American Theater between December 7, 1941 and March 2, 1946.
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal Awarded for military service for service within the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater between December 7, 1941 and November 8, 1945.
World War II Victory Medal Awarded for military service between December 7, 1941 and December 31, 1946, both dates inclusive.

Documents, Forms and Resources Found:
Yes Alabama Newspaper Obit, Notice, or Report
No  Application For Headstone or Marker, OQMG Form 623
No  Eyewitness Statement or Report
No  Grave Marker Photo(s), Find A Grave
Yes National Archives Database, Enlistment Records
No  Photo of veteran, Find A Grave
Yes WWII Draft Card Data

WWII Draft Card Data
Name: Marvin Donald McKinley
Race: White  -  Age: 18  -  Relationship to Draftee: Self
Birth Date: August 24, 1924  -  Birth Place: Vandenburg, Alabama
Residence Place: Camden, Wilcox County, Alabama
Registration Date: December 17, 1942  -  Registration Place: Camden, Wilcox County
Employer: Student
Weight: 158  -  Complexion: Ruddy
Eye Color: Brown  -  Hair Color: Brown  -  Height: 5' 9"
Next of Kin: J A Mckinley

 KILLED IN ACTION - Pfc. Marvin Donald McKinley (photo shown above), was killed in action Jan. 28 in France, according to word received by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. James A. McKinley, Camden. He had been in service since June, 1943, going overseas in October, 1944 with an armored division. He served in Germany and France. A sister, Pfc. Myrdie Dell McKinley, is with the Marine Corps Women's Reserve in San Diego. (notice printed 4/11/1945)

Body Of Camden Soldier Being Returned
 Among 79 Alabama Servicemen who died in World War II and whose remains are being returned, is listed the name of Pfc. Marvin McKinley of Camden.
 The Alabama war dead are being returned home aboard the United States Army Transport Barney Kirschbaum. It was announced that after the arrival of the ship at the New York port, from two to five weeks will elapse before the Distribution Center in Atlanta will be able to notify the next of kin when they may expect to receive the remains of their loved ones.
 The war dead being returned at this time were originally interred in temporary military cemeteries in Belgium, Holland, Luxembourg, and France.
 Marvin McKinley was inducted into the Army on June 29, 1943. He was sent to the European theater of operations in 1944. On February 6, 1945, he was reported missing in action, and on February 15 it was announced that he had been killed in action in Germany. Marvin trained at Fort Knox, Kentucky in 1943 with the Armored Forces. He and Sam McNeill, who was killed in action in November 1944, were inducted at the same time and also trained together at Fort Knox.
 His parents are Mr. and Mrs. Jim McKinley, of Camden. (notice printed 12/30/1948)

Funeral Services Held For Marvin McKinley
 June 6, 1949. Funeral services for Marvin McKinley, who was killed in action in World War II on January 18, 1945, were held at Camden Baptist Church Saturday morning at ten o'clock, followed by interment in Camden Cemetery.
 Rev. E. W. Roark of the Camden Baptist Church, assisted by Rev. R. C. Kennedy of the A. R. P. Church, officiated. Both ministers were Army chaplains during the war. Military Honors were accorded by a detachment from the National Guard's Heavy Mortar Company of Camden, under Captain E. H. Kelley.
 Military pallbearers included Marion Hall, Bob Luker, Erskine McGraw, Reginald McDonald, J. W. Middlebrooks, and John Kirchharr, who served as active pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers were classmates of Marvin's and were Leon Dunnam, David Liddell, Bain Henderson, John Skinner, Clyde Kennedy, Gordon Bridges, Watson Jones, Winfred Taylor, Curtis Henson, Oxford Stroud, Billie Vick, Taylor Hall, Arthur Capbell, and George Fendley. Sergeant Roe was Army honor guard and escort. A firing party in charge of Sergeant Jack Alford, made up of members of the National Guard company of Camden, included Alfred Fail, Pete Jones, Grady Davis, Horace Martin, Rudolph Wilkinson, J. W. Dunnam, and Lewis Harvell. A final salute was fired at the grave by the detachment, after which taps was sounded by a Selma bugler.
 Survivors include Marvin's Parents, Mr. and Mrs. Jim McKinley, and two sisters, Mrs. Dell M. Hall and Mary Eleanor McKinley.
 Matthews of Camden were in charge of arrangements.

Note 1: The death location, "North-Eastern France" is based on the best information available at this time. This location was estimated based on:

A. The Find A Grave website grave marker inscription indicates his assigned unit as the 68th Armored Infantry Battalion, 14th Armored Division, date of birth as August 28, 1924 and date of death on January 18, 1945.

B. His unit, the 14th Armored Division, was engaged in the Battle of Hatten-Rittershoffen in North-Eastern France from 9 to 21 January 1945.

C. There is a conflict in the location of death as reported between the two new stories above. The report on April 11, 1945 states PFC McKinley was killed in action in France, and the report of December 30, 1948 states the location was Germany. The location of the 14th Armored Division in January 1945 would support the location as France.

Anyone with a more specific location is welcomed and encouraged to submit an email to: ww2updates@withmilitaryhonors.com.

The following information on this casualty is sourced from The National Archives Database:
 Electronic Army Serial Number Merged File, ca. 1938 - 1946 (Enlistment Records) - See Note 2

 Do you have comments, questions, corrections or updates about PFC McKinley? With Military Honors would like to hear from you. To submit a picture, leave a comment or add any relevant military or family information to honor this veteran, send an email to nick@withmilitaryhonors.com.
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Note 2. Information is sourced from the public domain and may be copied and distributed without permission.