Please remember in your prayers alumnus and Marine pilot Kelly Hinz
Please remember in your prayers Kelly Hinz, a 1997 University of St. Thomas graduate and U.S. Marine pilot who died Monday evening when his jet crashed in Iraq.
According to news reports, Hinz and another U.S. Marine pilot apparently collided while engaged in military support operations in Iraq. Both were flying U.S. Marine Corps F/A-18 Hornet fighter jets.
Hinz transferred to St. Thomas in the spring semester of 1995 and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in December 1997. He majored in business administration and entrepreneurship.
Hinz also attended St. Thomas Academy in Mendota Heights, as did his three brothers. At the academy he was involved with the literary magazine, school newspaper, yearbook and the state-champion Alpine ski team.
He is a native of Woodbury, where his mother, Patricia, resides. His father, Donald, was a retired military and commercial pilot who died a year ago near Red Wing when a historic World War II fighter plane he was piloting crashed during an air show.
Kelly Hinz is survived by his wife, Molly Milbert Hinz, and their 7-month-old daughter. The family had been living in San Diego, Calif., where Hinz was stationed.
Funeral or memorial services have not yet been announced.
