Major Kenneth E. McNally was the second commander of Company D, 16th SF Gp RIARNG after the reassignment of LTC Paice. He took command on 18 March 1963. He was born on 6Nov23. His military service started on 26Jan42 as a sailor in the US Navy. Following the end of WWII he served in the USNR. He enlisted in the National Guard in 1949 and was commissioned a 2LT in 1950. In 1951 he entered Active Duty and served with the 82d Airborne Division, Fort Bragg until 1953. Prior to taking command of D/16th SF, he commanded the 993d Signal Co and HHC, 743d Ord Bn.
Maj McNally believed that the CO should lead the way when the unit conducted airborne operations. He would serve as the “wind dummy” and make no attempt to control or maneuver his chute (not that you could do much with a T-10); consequently he made many tree landings. He relinquished command in December 1966 and relocated to California. He was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in the US Army Reserve.
He died on 22 June 2003 and is buried in Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery, SanDiego, CA.
