Michael John MacKinnon

The bridge took fourteen years to carry his name. Michael John MacKinnon was born in Helena and graduated from Capital High School in 1993 as valedictorian. The Defense Department's notice of his death near Baghdad on October 27, 2005, listed him with the 3rd Infantry Division's 4th Battalion, 64th Armor Regiment. On June 22, 2019, his family and people who had never known him gathered at this Dearborn rest area as the Interstate 15 bridge over the Missouri was named for him, the first in Montana to complete the Bridges for the Fallen application process.

What the plaque says

An American Hero Michael John MacKinnon The Missouri River Bridge, just southwest of here, is dedicated to the memory of Captain Michael John MacKinnon, who gave his life in defense of his country. A native of Helena, MacKinnon graduated from West Point in 1997 and was commissioned a second lieutenant in the US Army. He also completed Ranger, Airborne, and Air Assault schools. The Army recognized MacKinnon's natural leadership abilities and he rapidly rose through the ranks to Captain and was slated for promotion to Major upon return from his deployment. At the time of 911, he was part of the Third Infantry Division stationed at Fort Stewart, Georgia. He served with distinction in Operation Iraqi Freedom and the invasion of Iraq, in March 2003. During his second tour of duty in Iraq, on October 27, 2005, an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) exploded next to Captain MacKinnon's Humvee while he led a convoy mission near Baghdad. At the time of his death, the captain commanded Company A of the 184th Infantry, a California National Guard unit. Captain MacKinnon was buried with full military honors at the post cemetery at West Point. He left behind a wife, Beth, and two children, Madison and Noah. MacKinnon strove to be the best soldier he could be, but, most importantly, he lived his life with integrity and courage. He was a loving husband and devoted father – a true American hero! May 26, 1975 – October 27, 2005 Honoring Our Nation's Fallen Heroes Founded in 2012, Bridges for the Fallen is a national non-profit organization that celebrates the lives of America's fallen soldiers by dedicating bridges to fallen soldiers in his or her home state. "The bridge is a symbol of strength, honor and respect and it becomes part of the families/fallen warriors' legacy and history. The bridge will pass the torch onto countless generations and show them who the fallen warrior was and their sacrifice to our nation. The bridge is a mechanism to healing and we are proud, honored and humbled to serve our nation's fallen heroes and their families." - Rob Mador, Founder of Bridges for the Fallen

Where it stands

Worth the stop nearby

• Mann Gulch — 17 mi
  Thirteen markers on a grass slope above the Missouri, where a fire outran a crew of smokejumpers in 1949.

More markers nearby

• "Cliffs High and Steep" — steps away
• The Missouri River Canyon and Old US Highway 91 — 4.4 mi
• A Volcanic Island in the Rocky Mountains — 4.4 mi
• The Mann Gulch Fire — 9.2 mi