Michael John MacKinnon was born in Helena, MT, on 26 May 1975, to John and the late Beverly Barker MacKinnon. He graduated valedictorian from Capital High School in Helena in 1993, where he played in the band and was a member of the Capital High football and swim teams, and Babe Ruth Baseball League.

Michael was a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy with the class of 1997. After receiving his commission as a Second Lieutenant of Infantry in the U.S. Army, he completed Ranger, Airborne, and Air Assault schools and was then assigned as a platoon leader in the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, NC, where he was deployed to Haiti and Egypt. He married Bethany Mayers in Fayetteville, NC, on 18 February 1999, and they had two beautiful children together, daughter Madison and son Noah. Michael was up for any challenge and always made sure to have plenty of fun along the way. A few of his many interests included watching NASCAR races, rock climbing, floating the Dearborn River, listening to country music, playing horseshoes and eating burgers at the York Bar. He loved taking trips to Montana to visit family and friends, but his favorite place to be was home with Beth and the kids.

Michael was eventually stationed with the 3rd Infantry Division at Fort Stewart, GA, where he was deployed to Iraq in Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003. During his first tour in 2003, he was among the U.S. forces that stormed the Iraqi capital and secured Baghdad International Airport.

On 27 October 2005, Michael was in his second deployment in Iraq and serving as a Company Commander with the 4th Battalion, 64th Armor Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, based out of Fort Stewart, GA. He had completed nine months of his combat tour, and was scheduled to return home in January 2006.

On that day, CAPT MacKinnon was killed when an improvised explosive device detonated near his HMMWV during convoy operations in Baghdad, Iraq.

Burial

Captain Michael John MacKinnon is buried at the United States Military Academy Post Cemetery in West Point, NY.

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