“As of 15 August 1968, McNulty was in charge of an Air America helicopter on a mission to a forward area in Laos. His mission was to contact and brief a battalion engaged in a major offensive operation aimed at retaking a strategic location near Muong Phalane, Laos.”
CIA Website
August 15, 2025 — Wayne J. McNulty was a CIA paramilitary officer serving in the Special Operations Division of the Directorate of Plans (now known as the Directorate of Operations). He was killed on August 15, 1968, in Muong Phalane, Laos, after being struck by sniper fire. Follow us on Twitter: @Intel_Today
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Wayne J. McNulty was born on September 14, 1921, in Columbus, Montana. He was the son of Mrs. McNulty and the stepson of Jay Sheeks.
From 1930 to 1940, the family resided in Eugene, Oregon, where McNulty attended St. Mary’s High School, graduating in 1940.
In 1946, he married Yvonne (née Weber) McNulty, and together they had two daughters, Molli and Colleen.
U.S. Army Service
McNulty joined the U.S. Army in 1940, beginning his service as a First Lieutenant. During World War II, he served as a regimental intelligence and reconnaissance platoon leader.
After being honorably discharged in 1946, he pursued a civilian career as a self-employed salesman of electrical appliances while simultaneously taking college courses.
In 1952, McNulty was recalled to active duty and subsequently served in a variety of international assignments, including Australia, New Guinea, the Philippines, Japan, Germany, and Vietnam. He retired from the military in 1966 with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.
Life at the CIA
Following his military career, McNulty became a paramilitary officer within the Special Operations Division of the Directorate of Plans (now the Directorate of Operations).
After completing basic operations training, he began studying the Vietnamese language to prepare for his assignments.
In 1967, he was deployed to Southeast Asia as a paramilitary operations specialist. His first assignment was in Pakse, Laos, where he trained local forces and successfully led reconnaissance missions, security patrols, and operations against enemy forces.
Death in Service
In the late 1960s, McNulty was transferred to Savannakhet, Laos. On August 15, 1968, he led an Air America helicopter mission to a forward area in southern Laos.
The mission’s objective was to contact and brief a battalion engaged in a major offensive to retake a strategically significant location near Muong Phalane, a village along the Se Bang Hieng River in Savannakhet Province.
This region was a critical area of activity during the Vietnam War due to its proximity to the Ho Chi Minh Trail.
Despite being aware of nearby enemy forces, McNulty successfully landed and completed the briefing with the battalion commanders. As he, the pilot, and the crew prepared to re-board the helicopter, they came under enemy fire.
McNulty ensured the safety of the others, helping everyone aboard the helicopter. However, as he attempted to hoist himself back through the door, the aircraft was struck by enemy fire, and a sniper’s bullet hit him in the head.
He was airlifted to Savannakhet for medical attention and later transferred to Bangkok. Despite efforts to save him, McNulty succumbed to his injuries.
Memorial Wall and Book of Honor
To protect his cover, media reports at the time stated that Wayne J. McNulty had died accidentally in Thailand while serving as a contract adviser to the Thailand National Police.
He is buried at Mount Calvary Catholic Cemetery in Eugene, Lane County, Oregon. He is honored with one of the original stars on the CIA Memorial Wall. However, his name was not initially included in the Book of Honor.
John Kearns was the last of the initial 31 stars honored on the CIA Memorial Wall. Like Wayne McNulty (24), Wilbur M. Greene (29), and John Peterson (*30), his name remained anonymous and was not included in the Book of Honor for almost three decades.
As Ted Gup remarked:
“To some degree, it was an act of legerdemain practiced upon the American public, whose patience and support of the Vietnam conflict were already flagging. To some degree, too, it was a feeble attempt to avoid international condemnation for violating a promised neutrality.”
McNulty was posthumously awarded the CIA’s Intelligence Star for his bravery and service, a distinction reserved for “voluntary acts of courage performed under hazardous conditions” or “outstanding achievements or services rendered with distinction under conditions of grave risk.”
REFERENCES
“Wayne J. McNulty.” Biography approved for Release: January 13, 2022. CIA Website.
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CIA Memorial Wall — STAR 24 : Wayne J. McNulty (Laos – August 15, 1968)
“We stand before these 140 stars not only with gratitude but with reverence for our fallen heroes. We’ll never forget their sacrifice. We’ll never forget their devotion.”
William J. Burns
Director of the Central Intelligence Agency
CIA Memorial Ceremony
(May 23, 2023)
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