Gene Smedley McMullen was born on December 13, 1942 to Robert (Rick) and Frances McMullen, who at the time resided at 122 West Minor St. in West Chester.  That year, his father, Rick, enlisted in the Marine Corps.  Both Rick and Frances were graduates of West Chester State Teachers College. Gene was one of two children, his sister Gail was younger.

Gene’s father was sent to the Mediterranean, and Gene went to live with his grandmother in West Grove, where he attended schools. When his father returned he was assigned to duty in California, then to Hawaii. Gene attended high school at the Punahou Academy in Honolulu, where he lettered in Football (playing Tight End), Basketball and Track.

 Gene was well rounded in his interests; he loved music and dancing, as well as sports.  He had a quiet demeanor, but was personable, and popular with his classmates. Gene worked summer jobs in construction.  His father gave him a 1955 Ford convertible, to drive to work as well as sports practices and games.  He was proud of the car, and took it with him when he later returned stateside.

 Gene graduated from Punahou Academy in 1958, and returned east to attend Penn State, at the main campus at State College, PA.  He majored in history, and planed on returning to Hawaii which he loved, to teach and coach High School football, after his service in the Corps.

 At Penn State, Gene played on the Varsity Football Team under coach Rip Engle. He joined Phi Beta Kappa Fraternity. Gene enrolled in the NROTC (Navy Reserve Officers Training Course) and their PLC (Platoon Leaders Course) preparing to enter the Marine Corps. He trained at Quantico, Virginia his freshman and sophomore and junior years. Gene was known by his nicknamed ‘Smedley’ or ‘Smed’ by his friends.  But he was nicknamed ‘Long-Gene’ by his family because of his height – he shot up to 6 foot 3 inches.

 Upon graduation from Penn State 1965, Gene went through basic training at Quantico, and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Marine Corps Reserve. Gene played on the 1965 Quantico football team. That year he married Eleanor Madore of Bedford, PA.

Gene was sent to the Army’s Artillery school at Fort Sill Okalahoma, and further training at Camp Pendleton, California. In May 1966 he was sent to Vietnam, as a platoon leader with the Third Battalion of the 12^th Marine Regiment. Gene’s job was a forward artillery observer, an extremely dangerous job, for 105mm and 155mm artillery.

Second Lieutenant Gene Smedley McMullen was Killed In Action on July 16, 1966 by Viet Cong counter battery fire in the Quang Tri Province. Gene was buried with full military honors in Arlington National Cemetery the end of the month.  He was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Ribbon, and the Purple Heart. In May 2002, Gene as well as 3 other athletes from the 1965 football team who gave their lives in Vietnam were honored. As of this writing, a memorial service is planned for the spring of 2004.

 Gene’s father, Rick served in WWII, Korea and Vietnam in the Corps. He served with the Second Division, later with the 1^st, and then went to Navy flight school, flying fighter aircraft, later transitioning to jet fighters.