Kirk McFarlin

At 8 years old he was already doing his own travelling from one town to another by train and skiing back home, with his very independent mother's approval! One of Adelaide's favorite stories was about the family outing to the beach, there was no way she was going to spoil such a beautiful occasion by worrying about him, so she tied a rope to her chair and to him! All had a great time!

He was 21 when he enlisted in the Marines during the Korean War; and was honorably discharged three years later. His big regret was not being able to go to Korea, and missing all the action he loved, since he was stationed at an island far away.

His only interest in his youth, according to his mom, was cars. He could talk about cars for hours. This love eventually took him to General Motors, he loved the cars but not the corporate system, so he moved on. It was at this time that his love of airplanes took hold, and never left him!

He was so impressed by his flying instructor, a woman! She used to ferry planes over the Atlantic during the 2nd WWar and the seed of adventure seeking was fertilized at that time.

After falling in love with flying he decided to accompany his father on a trip to Latin America with his Water Pumps Co. It was supposed to take a few weeks, starting in Guatemala; but it became the first and last leg of the trip for him! He fell in love with Guatemala in the 50's and he never stopped loving the Land of Eternal Spring!

One of his father's clients had a cotton farm on the south coast and needed a pilot so he hired Mac on the spot, without knowing that Mac had never sprayed before! Mac promptly flew back to the US and got his training and flew back in his own crop duster. Yes, that is who he was! Later, he went on to have his own business which he ran successfully until his loyal partner passed away and he was forced to sell.

In Guatemala he met the love of his life, Gina, who had to make a quick decision to marry him, and go to Africa, or see him back in two years! In those days Trade-A-Plane, the famous yellow newspaper, was the encyclopedia of all flying jobs in the world.

In Liberia his experiences went from flying diamond traffickers, businessmen and rice to the interior and also to neighboring countries. His joyful attitude about what he saw daily compensated for the worries of not having radio communications or lights at the main airport in the country. To him it was all part of the daily run. The Airport Restaurant was a daily meeting hall full of the most unbelievable stories; one of them being the one of Mac rescuing a comrade who crashed and could not be found for more than a day - Mac walked for hours with a local team, they found him unconscious, covered with ants (he survived only because someone cared). Yes, that was Mac!

After two years of flying over iron mines, rubber plantations, and salt-water crocodiles it was time for Mac to move on again. Kenya and South Africa offered him jobs, but his heart had already found the right place for his adventurous heart, yes, in the yellow newspaper!

Air America was calling Mac to Southeast Asia and no other place could fill that space. Life was ever so different in Vietnam where a lot of his friends from the US Embassy in Guatemala were stationed. They used to stop by on their R&R days and feel at home eating homemade spaghetti. Only a chosen few were fortunate enough to have their families living with them in Saigon, and he rejoiced in that! He used to say that the minute he got home, the war was over and he was in paradise! No, Saigon was no paradise in early 1968 and as much as he longed to protect Gina and new baby (Gina), they were all in different cities when the Tet offensive occurred. Only Our Lord could have helped the family get together, it was a rough week but HE took care of them all. After three years, and by God's great Mercy, he was transferred to Vientiane, Laos where Gina’s sister Lissa was born. All of the dangers of his job were forgotten by such blessings.

His many years flying with Air America were the highlight of his career as he treasured the combination of adventure and service to humanity. To him life was about the journey, not the destination. He was there for whatever was needed, keeping up with Air America motto ANYTHING ANYTIME ANYWHERE PROFESSIONALLY! and a professional he was, but a humble one at heart. Letters of commendation were put away quietly until Gina found them. Not the kind of person to brag about lives he saved and people he helped have a better life. He loved the locals in every country he worked in, treating them with respect and gratitude and leaving his vision of a better world for all.

The time came when he would either go back to Saigon or quit and quit he did. There was no way he could take his family back to so much danger or live apart from them. One of the great choices he made in life.

But it would be hard to find a job that brought so much excitement back into his life. He settled in Brownsville, Texas where he would be free to fly south wherever, whenever needed and leave his family well taken care of. Brownsville was then a family-oriented town with its great mix of latin and american flavor. Many wonderful friends became our families to this day. Wonderful memories he treasured for decades.

His work for NAS in Latin America for many years in the drug eradication program was well praised and gave him an opportunity to travel all over; he knew every country but Argentina. He could talk about the beauty of the mountains in Colombia, the majesty of the Andes to the desert areas of Chile, eating at one country and crossing the street to another country for dessert. A life lived to the max! It is a true miracle he made it to ninety-one!

After years of adventure, and long before he was ready, he decided that there was no other place he loved as much as the Rio Dulce in Guatemala where he and Gina spent a good part of their latter years.

Kirk was known to all by Mac, Macarito, Uncle Mac, Abuelo Mac, Tio Mac and left his print on many hearts. He was married to Gina…for 56 years! Mac had three daughters: Claire (Tom), Gina (Dave) and Lissa (Brian) and five grandchildren Christina, Joseph, Jose, David and Skylar.

The family has chosen to do as Mac would have liked and not have a memorial service at this time. His ashes will be taken back to the place he loved so much at a later time.

In gratitude for the support and loving care he received at the Veterans Hospital in Houston, in lieu of flowers we would appreciate a memorial donation to the Wounded Warrior project in his name.

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