Gov. Bill Haslam has ordered state flags to fly at half-mast Saturday, June 17 as the remains of a military officer will be returned home. U.S. Air Force Technical Sgt. William O’Kieff of Murfreesboro was presumably killed on November 27, 1970 along with five other American crew members, 73 Republic of South Vietnam service members and their wives and children. O’Kieff was serving as flight engineer on a C-123K carrying Americans and South Vietnamese passengers when it crashed. He was 38-years-old. The cause of the crash has not been determined. O’Kieff’s remains will arrive at the Nashville International Airport Air Cargo Building at 963 Airport Service Road in Nashville on Friday, June 16 at 12:49 p.m. (CDT). Graveside service with full military honors will be in Roselawn Memorial Gardens, 5350 NW Broad Street, Murfreesboro on Saturday, June 17 at 1:00 p.m. (CDT). O’Kieff is survived by his son Alexander, daughter Dawn of Nashville and granddaughter Aislin O’Kieff of Conover, North Carolina.
