George Kevin Hynes

Kevin Hynes passed away peacefully at home, on April 19, 2022. Kevin is survived by his family – wife of 53 years, Mary Elizabeth Hynes, daughter and son-in-law, Elizabeth and Brad Gurganus, son Brendan Hynes and his four siblings – Eleanor Hynes Redican, Ann Hynes, Thomas J. Hynes II and David Hynes.

A funeral mass will be held at 10:00am on Saturday, April 30, at Annunciation Parish in Havelock, NC, and will be preceded by a Wake/Visitation to be held Friday, April 29, between the hours of 3:00pm and 5:00pm at Cotten Funeral Home in New Bern, NC. His interment with full military honors, will be conducted at Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, D.C., at a later date to be determined.

In lieu of flowers and as Kevin’s final act of service, donations may be made in his name and memory to the Military Order of the Purple Heart Chapter 639 Scholarship Fund at www.GKevinHynes.com.

Born February 24, 1942 in Boston, MA, Kevin attended the Randall G. Morris School and was a graduate of Boston English High School (Class of ‘59). Kevin was a graduate of the Boston College School of Management (Class of ‘63).

After graduating from Boston College, Kevin entered the U.S. Air Force and was commissioned in 1964. He was a navigator/bombardier on Strategic Air Command B-52’s from 1965-67 and was stationed at Mather AFB in Sacramento, Loring AFB, ME, and Plattsburgh AFB, NY. At Plattsburgh AFB, he also served as Wing Combat Intelligence Officer.

Kevin volunteered for Vietnam in September 1967 and was assigned to the Tan Son Nhut AFB 19th Air Commando Squadron as an Intelligence Officer/Navigator. During the Christmas Truce on Christmas Day 1967, Kevin met his future spouse, Mary Liz, a stewardess on Pan-American Airlines, on the tarmac of Tan San Nhut AFB.

While serving with the 19th, Kevin flew supply missions during the Tet Offensive of 1968 and was awarded the Navy/Marine Presidential Unit Citation for support to U.S. Marines defending Khe Sanh from January to March 1968. On February 6, 1968, Hynes was wounded when he was blown through a wall of the chapel annex by a 122mm rocket. He and the chaplain’s assistant went back into the chapel and rescued a number of those severely wounded. For this courageous effort, he was awarded the Airman’s Medal for valor and he received the Purple Heart for his wounds. Other medals Hynes was awarded in Vietnam include the Distinguished Flying Cross with Valor, two Bronze Stars, and the Air Medal.

Kevin returned to the US in September 1968 and served for a year at McGuire AFB in the Military Airlift Command as navigator flying C-141 Starlifters. In January 1969, Kevin and Mary Liz were married at the base chapel on McGuire. In September 1969, Kevin was honorably discharged from the U.S. Air Force at the rank of Captain. Kevin and Mary Liz took the adventure of a lifetime for their honeymoon, a 40-day worldwide excursion, traveling to London, Copenhagen, Paris, Nice, Bangkok, and Sydney.

Professionally, Kevin had a 40+ year career in the paper and packaging industry starting with the Ludlow Corporation, where he began as a sales trainee. Finding industry success, Kevin held various positions with Tyco International and that of President of American Fuji Seal as well as President and Owner of Salem Label. He ultimately sold Salem Label to W/S Packaging, where he retired as Technical Director.

Over the course of Kevin’s career, he and the family lived in six states including Massachusetts, Ohio, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, New York, and finally settled in North Carolina where Kevin transitioned his energy and generous spirit into becoming an active member of the Eastern North Carolina community serving in a number of capacities including:

● Commander of the Military Order of The Purple Heart Chapter 639

● Department Adjutant for the Military Order of The Purple Heart, NC

● Founding Member of The Veterans Coalition of the Crystal Coast

● Member of the Craven County Veterans Council

● Featured Speaker for the Vietnam War Traveling Memorial

● Faith Formation Teacher, Annunciation Parish in Havelock, NC

Kevin was a gregarious and joyous man. He loved spending time with others, sharing coffee with family and friends, fishing on his boat Silvershell, and gathering for weekly bible study. He enjoyed playing golf at his home course of Carolina Colours as well as driving in his truck listening to his favorite music from Jimmy Buffet, The Beach Boys, and CCR. In these ways, he was a true “everyman” all while being one of a kind – a loving husband, a caring father, an American patriot, and a leader. He will be missed by all who knew him and we will cherish the time we shared. God bless you, Kevin…

“May the road rise up to meet you.

May the wind be always at your back.

May the sun shine warm upon your face;

the rains fall soft upon your fields and until we meet again,

may God hold you in the palm of His hand.”

- Unknown

Condolences may be made to the Hynes family at www.cottenfuneralhome.com