Organization Seeks Support to Serve Indiana Veterans in Memory of Fallen Air Force Captain

A Community Posting by Susan Klinker

My aunt, Captain Mary T. Klinker, was a U.S. Air Force flight nurse and the only member of the Air Force Nurse Corps killed during the Vietnam War. A native of Lafayette, Indiana, she joined the Air Force in 1970 after graduating from Central Catholic High School and training at St. Elizabeth Hospital’s School of Nursing.

On April 4, 1975, she volunteered for a humanitarian mission as part of Operation Babylift, which evacuated Vietnamese orphans—many with American fathers—before the fall of Saigon. Mary was aboard the first flight, a C-5A Galaxy cargo plane, which tragically crashed after takeoff, killing 138 people, including Mary at age 27.

Her legacy lives on through MTK Restoring Hope, an initiative of the Mary T. Klinker Veteran Resource Center. Located in Boswell, Indiana, the center will repurpose a former National Guard Armory into a trauma-informed, veteran-led residential facility. It will feature 13 single-occupancy rooms and 2 family suites, offering short-term housing where veterans heal veterans through shared experience and compassionate support.

Last year, 102 Founding Patriots raised $250,000 to secure the property. Now, we need $1.2 million more for renovations. As Vice President of MTK Restoring Hope, I’m asking Hoosiers to:

- Donate to support renovations

- Volunteer your time or expertise

- Partner to expand services

Together, we can honor our veterans and carry forward Mary’s legacy of courage, compassion, and service.

 Contact: info@mtkvets.org |  [mtkvets.org](http://mtkvets.org)