Missing Soldier:
Corporal Harvey Eugene Whitacre
Harvey
Eugene “Gene” Whitacre
PERSONAL INFORMATION
Date
Of Birth:
10/6/1926 (Kokomo, Indiana)
Parents:
Harvey Whitacre & Eva Mina Nicholson-Whitacre
Siblings:
Ira Whitacre, Ben Whitacre, James Robert Whitacre, Sarah Catherine Whitacre, Mary
Lou Whitacre, Martha Jean Whitacre, Elma Rose Whitacre
Address
Prior to Enlistment:
1211 East Mulberry St. Kokomo, Indiana
Date
Missing:
6/30/1947 (Some reports say 7/1/1947)
Missing
From:
From a Bowling Alley in Albuquerque, New Mexico (Bernallilo
County)
Height
& Weight:
Around 5'9 Around 155 lbs
Hair
& Eyes:
Both Brown
Wearing:
Army Issue Casual Dress (Pants, Shirt, Tie, Hat & Boots)
Rank:
Corporal-Technician 5th Grade
Stationed:
Sandia Base, Albuquerque, NM (Now Kirtland AFB) as part of a
Special
Weapons Project.
Other:
Wore Very Strong Prescription Glasses (Could NOT see without them)
Links
Namus:
DoeNetwork:
MissingVeterans:
Websleuths:
GrantCounty Beat:
CountEveryMystery:
EARLY LIFE
Harvey Eugene Whitacre was born on October 6th, 1926 to Harvey and Eva Whitacre in Howard County, Indiana. (He went by Gene) Both parents were in their 40s when he was born. His father was a farmer and his mother, Like many of her generation was a housekeeper. The Whitacre's had a large family consisting of 7 boys and 4 girls. Gene graduated from Kokomo High School in 1944. After schooling Gene worked at the Kokomo Tribune as an apprentice to his brother Ben in the composing room for 18 months. In November of 1945 Gene registered for the Army, And within 2 years was stationed at the Top Secret Sandia Base in Albuquerque, NM that was run by the the United States Department of Defense. The base was not only the principal Nuclear Weapons Research Center at the time. It also played a major role in the country's nuclear deterrence capabilities for years after its creation in 1946. In 1971 the base merged with Kirtland AFB.
Sandia
Base: Building 828 circa 1945(ish)
Before
Disappearance-Alb Journal: 6/12/1947
Kokomo
Tribune: 7/8/1947
Alb
Journal: 7/12/1947
Freeport
Journal Standard: 7/17/1947
Greensburg
Daily News: 7/21/1947
DETAILS
OF DISAPPEARANCE
Corporal
Gene Whitacre was on a 24hr leave from Sandia Base where he was
stationed in Albuquerque,NM on 6/30/1947. Corporal Whitacre was the
treasurer of a league that was bowling at an alley on the outskirts
of Albuquerque the night he disappeared. Since he was treasurer of
the league, It is reported that he was carrying around $500 in cash
the night he disappeared. One July 3rd his blood stained
shirt, hat and his prescription glasses were found in an alley a few
streets over from the bowling alley. It was reported that Gene was
practically blind without his glasses. The shirt appeared to have 2
tears in the back that are consistent with stab wounds. Since Gene
wasn't stationed at an ordinary armed forces base, and all officers
(and non officers) had to be accounted for at all times. They
immediately took notice of his absence and declared him AWOL. Local
Law Enforcement and well as the FBI was notified and an investigation
was underway. The Federal Government was obviously concerned as his
absence could be interpreted as a possible security breach that could
have an impact on national defense. However, the investigation soon
went from one of a possible security breach, To a probable robbery
based on evidence and the amount of cash he was carrying at the time.
Other than his shirt, hat and glasses, nothing of any value was ever
recovered. The case soon went cold. No suspects were ever hinted at
or publicly named. He was eventually declared deceased in 1954 and
his brother (and former coworker at the Kokomo Tribune) took over his
estate since Gene was not married. (No kids)
Kokomo
Tribune: 1/23/1954
Analysis
It's
easy to try and make a spy case out of this. Or even a conspiratorial
one. Gene worked at a Top Secret installation and was likely privy to
classified information. Whether that information was of any
significance at a national level is anyone's guess. The official
government position was his clearance didn't give him access to
anything that would damage national security. But anyone with half a
brain knows that even if it did, The government wouldn't admit to it
then or now. I have read online that his family's phones were bugged
for years afterwards by the F.B.I. Not sure how they would know that.
But if that were true, That kind of a reaction makes you wonder what
kind (If any) damaging information he had at his disposal. Although,
One could also look at it as the government just covering their
bases. If you look at everything in a logical fashion. The
government's position (As well as local LE's) on Gene's disappearance
was probably the correct analysis to make based upon the facts. There
is no reason to think Gene was a spy of any sort. The fact that his
shirt, hat, and glasses were found validates the analysis more than
anything else. Yes, One could speculate that those were left behind
to make it seem as tho there was a robbery. A good way for a spy to
to fool the government into thinking he is dead. But that's what they
do in the movies. Not in real life. No spy ever wants to leave a
trail of evidence behind. That is just asking to get caught. Not to
mention very foolish. However, One could also speculate Gene could've
met with someone he was passing information to. And that something
occurred during the transaction and he was killed as a result. But
again, Why would they leave evidence behind? Again, That would be
foolish. You're just asking to get caught doing that. I think it is
more likely that robbery was the motive. Could it have been one of
the people in the league? You can't count anything out. But remember
this occurred at a bowling alley. Many people were there. It wouldn't
be hard for a person (Or a few) to notice Gene collecting cash for
his league and simply keep their eyes on him. The interesting thing
to me is how the culprit(s) could get him away from the others in the
league. Maybe he stayed after the league was done bowling? Maybe they
got to him when he was walking to his car? It is logical to presume
they went to the same bowling alley for league. Maybe Gene had a
routine of staying for a period of time afterwards? It's easy to go
down a rabbit hole just thinking about it. The fact of the matter is
whoever is responsible did indeed get Gene alone. (Presumably alone)
Or at least in a vulnerable position. My opinion based on all that is known is that
Gene was robbed and killed for the money he had in his possession.
Whether it was someone he knew or didn't know really doesn't matter
at this point. Odds are they are long gone at this point. I felt it
was important to write this entry because this man needs remembered
as a good young man. A PATRIOT who died way too young at the hands of
scum. I don't believe there is any conspiracy here. I did find an
interesting article regarding the base dated August 26th
of 1947. A little over a month after Gene went missing. You'll find
it at the bottom of the entry. One
more thing, Some of you may notice the site changing a lot in the
next few weeks. And that is because I finally got myself someone who
knows what the hell they are doing with web site designing. Her name
is Felicity and she is truly a god send. So she is gonna be undoing
all the bullshit I've done over the years and try and make the site
more presentable.
