| Lt. Col. Binkley, 74, funeral set Friday |
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| Thursday, April 9, 2009 |
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MT. JULIET -- Services will be conducted 11 a.m. Friday, April 10 at Bond Memorial Chapel for Lt. Col. (Ret.) Binkley, 74, of Mt. Juliet. A highly decorated U.S. Army veteran and a former manager with Holley Replacement Parts in Goodletsville, he died Tuesday, April 7, 2009. Visitation will be 4-8 p.m. Thursday at Bond Memorial Chapel, N. Mt. Juliet Road and Weston Drive, Mt. Juliet. Interment with full military honors will be conducted 11 a.m. Monday, April 13 at Middle Tennessee Veterans Cemetery. Lt. Col. Binlkey enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1952 and served with the 2nd Armored Calvary Regiment, patrolling boarders of West Germany, East Germany and Czechoslovakia. After graduating from Officer Candidate School in 1957, he served in many command and staff positions, both stateside and in Germany and Vietnam.During his second tour in Vietnam, he commanded the 6th Psychological Operations Battalion during the Viet Cong Tet Offensive of 1968. He retired in 1972 and re-entered the Army in 1991 in support of Operation Desert Storm, serving nearly eight months. His decorations include the Legion of Merit, two Bronze Star Medals, Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal, five Air Medals, two Army Commendation Medals, Army Achievement Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Army Occupation Medal, three National Defense Service Medals, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with six battle stars, Vietnamese Campaign Medal, Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Silver Star, Vietnamese Honor Medal 1st Class, Vietnamese National Psychological Warfare Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Meritorious Unit Commendation, Combat Infantryman Badge, Aircraft Crewman Wings, U.S. Paratrooper Wings, and Vietnamese Paratrooper Wings.Additionally, he received two state awards, the Tennessee Commendation Ribbon and the Tennessee Volunteer Ribbon. In civilian life, "Al" joined Holley Replacement Parts in 1974 and retired in 1989 from the position of Distribution Center Manager at their Goodlettsville facility. He had also served as a Reserve Deputy Sheriff for Wilson County in a volunteer capacity since 1988. He was a member of the Mt. Juliet/West Wilson Chamber of Commerce. Survivors include: wife Ruth Ann Binkley of Mt. Juliet; son Charles (Kate) Binkley of Lebanon and stepson Charles R. Webb of Hermitage. Also surviving: siblings Ed (Glenda) Binkley of Gladeville, Louise Worrell, Cloteen (Ralph) Zerbe and Bess (Charles) Holton -- all of Nashville and Ann Miles of Springfield; as well as two grandchildren. Al was the son of the late, Melvin Binkley and Mary Elizabeth Napier Roop. He was also preceded in death by his sister, Ruth Turner and his brother, Willie A. Binkley. Honorary pallbearers will be employees of the Wilson County Sheriff’s Department and the Mt. Juliet Police Department. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Alive Hospice, 1718 Patterson Street, Nashville 37203. Arrangements by Bond Memorial Chapel. www.bondmemorial.com |
