Mary T. Klinker was the daughter of Paul and Mary Klinker. She was a student at Central Catholic High School in Lafayette, IN, and studied nursing at St. Elizabeth’s School of Nursing. She worked as a nurse at St. Elizabeth Hospital after graduation.

In January of 1970, Mary joined the Air Force, became a flight nurse and was promoted to the rank of Captain. After being assigned to the 10th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron, she was temporarily assigned to Clark Air Base in the Philippines.

As the end of the Vietnam War approached, a mission called “Operation Babylift” began with the goal of evacuating over 2000 orphans from Saigon. Captain Klinker was a flight nurse assigned to care for the orphans as they were being transported.

On April 4th, 1975, the first transport flight of “Operation Babylift” took off from an Tan Son Nhut Airbase outside of Saigon. Unfortunately, shortly after takeoff, the rear loading ramp locks of the C-5A Galaxy cargo transport plane malfunctioned, causing a series of mechanical failures. The pilots attempted an emergency landing; as the plane slid across rice paddies, it broke apart, resulting in the deaths of 138 people, including Captain Klinker.

Captain Mary T. Klinker was 27 years old when she died. She was the last nurse and the only member of the US Air Force Nurse Corps to be killed in Vietnam.

Captain Klinker was posthumously awarded the Airman’s Medal for Heroism and the Meritorious Service Medal; she is listed on Panel O1W, Row 122 of The Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial in Washington, D.C.

A sister in arms who served with Mary remembers her...."I was stationed with Klinker at Clark AB in 1971-72. She was working in pediatrics with a number of children. One morning when I was going to the mess hall I saw Mary holding one of the kids, many of them were suffering from worms and I said how can you take care of them Mary. She replied " you just got to love them". I know she loved all those children on Operation Babylift. She was doing what she loved.." ~Gail Mornhenwig

You just got to love them.... In building and running the organization in Mary's namesake we hold on to that basic principle of love. Mary T. Klinker Veteran Center has served over 900 Veterans since it's birth in 2010. The 14 years of service have sent us down may paths, all ending on the same road of a need for healing. Marine, Benjamin Mann is just one of thousands of heroes that are in need of love and healing. We stand on the cusp of creating a one of a kind facility in the state of Indiana where Veterans can come home to heal together with dignity and love. Restoring Hope is a unique facility featuring the 7 core principles of healing, physical, mental, spiritual, financial and social healing along with addressing life skills and selfless service to the community. Upon completion of acquisition and construction; the building will house 13-15 individual Veterans and 2 families per cohort. They will come together to heal featuring the peer facilitated Veterans healing Veterans approach. Restoring Hope will offer a plethora of programming including the Purpose Driven Life, and combat Marine Veteran, Silouan Green's Ladder UPP program. In addition there will be art therapy, music therapy, equestrian therapy and more.

Building Restoring Hope is a grassroots effort of love, duty, and commitment to serving Hoosier Veterans. Our building campaign for Restoring Hope has featured our Founding Patriots Program with three tiers of sponsorship.

As a Founding Patriot, names are immortalized in the halls of Restoring Hope for every Veteran who comes home to heal!

Restoring Hope: Founding Patriots

Platinum Level: $5000 or more

Gold Level: $1000

Silver Level: $500

Every dollar counts in grassroots fundraising. Thank a Veteran today by investing in their healing. Your donation will save lives and restore hope to our Nations heroes!

Thank a Veteran for their service

By Mary T Klinker Veteran Center Inc

Thank a Veteran for their service

By Giving them Restoring Hope