DAVID K. MCCULLOUGH, LT, USN
David McCullough '79
Lucky Bag
From the 1979 Lucky Bag:
David K. McCullough
Cropsey, Illinois
His home being Cropsey, Illinois, and affectionately known as “Deke,” David made his mark early in his Academy career by earning an N-star youngster year as a varsity pistol team member. Continuing in pistol, “The Sheriff” went on to be voted as first team All-American 2/c year. Being a well rounded individual, he also played on the company soccer and slow pitch softball teams, was a vice-president of the bowling club, and player-coach of the brigade champion 3rd Battalion tennis team. Spending his free time jumping out of perfectly good airplanes, “Coogs” seeks some thrills through sport parachuting – wonder what he is practicing for? Could it possibly be because his service selection is Navy Air? It’s a natural choice following his four years as an Aerospace Engineering major.
Sporting about in a ’69 Corvette, Dave is a firm believer in the “girl in every port” theory. Wonder if one of them will eventually pull his ripcord?
David K. McCullough
Cropsey, Illinois
His home being Cropsey, Illinois, and affectionately known as “Deke,” David made his mark early in his Academy career by earning an N-star youngster year as a varsity pistol team member. Continuing in pistol, “The Sheriff” went on to be voted as first team All-American 2/c year. Being a well rounded individual, he also played on the company soccer and slow pitch softball teams, was a vice-president of the bowling club, and player-coach of the brigade champion 3rd Battalion tennis team. Spending his free time jumping out of perfectly good airplanes, “Coogs” seeks some thrills through sport parachuting – wonder what he is practicing for? Could it possibly be because his service selection is Navy Air? It’s a natural choice following his four years as an Aerospace Engineering major.
Sporting about in a ’69 Corvette, Dave is a firm believer in the “girl in every port” theory. Wonder if one of them will eventually pull his ripcord?
Loss
David was lost on September 30, 1983 in a A-6E Intruder performing an instrument training flight over the Black Mountains of Arizona. He was a pilot with Attack Squadron (VA) 34. Weather may have contributed to the crash.
Other Information
From researcher Kathy Franz:
After graduation in June 1979, David competed in the 19th U.S. International Pistol Competition as a member of the NRA All-American Pistol Team. The competition was held in Black Canyon, Arizona. In 1978 he placed second in the nation in NCAA competition for .22-caliber standard course of fire.
The summer after graduation, he participated in an aeronautical engineering research project before going to Pensacola for flight training in October.
On April 10, 1982, he married Connie Devore at the Naval Air Station, Meridian. In September 1982, he received his Wings of Gold.
In February 1983, his sister Kathleen was sworn into the U.S. Navy. His brother BUCN Markus was a Seabee stationed on Diego Garcia, Indian Ocean.
David was the son of retired Commander and Mrs. Ray McCullough. His neighbors gathered one week after his death to help harvest soybeans on his family’s farm in Cropsey.
From the December 1983 issue of Shipmate:
Lt. David Keith McCullough USN was killed in an aircraft accident on 30 September 1983 southwest of Kingman, Arizona. A memorial service was held on 4 October at the Chapel of the Good Shepherd at the Naval Air Station, Oceana, Virginia, and interment was in Arlington National Cemetery.
Appointed to the Naval Academy from the State of Georgia, he was a native of Illinois. Upon graduation with the Class of 1979, he eventually took flight training. At the time of his death he was assigned to Attack Squadron 34, stationed at the Oceana Naval Air Station and flying the A6E Intruder aircraft. He was a life member of the Naval Academy Alumni Association.
He is survived by his widow Connie of the Green Run subdivision of Virginia Beach; a son, Paul; his parents, Cdr. and Mrs. Raymond McCullough, and two sisters and a brother, all of Cropsey, Illinois.
Related Articles
Nicholas Harman '80 was also lost in this crash.
The "category" links below lead to lists of related Honorees; use them to explore further the service and sacrifice of alumni in Memorial Hall.
