Goodland Alumni Return with Powerful Stories of Service and Sacrifice
- Kristina Hemel
- Jul 28
- 3 min read
Updated: Jul 29
As part of Sherman County Alumni Weekend, three proud Goodland High School graduates—Pat McKenzie (Class of 1983), Doug Smith (Class of 1990), and Jeff Vingery (Class of 1992)—joined Rollie on the air for a moving and memorable conversation about life, military service, and the values they carried with them from their hometown roots.
From Goodland to the World
Each of the alumni has a remarkable career of military service behind them. Pat McKenzie, now living in the Fort Worth, Texas area, retired from the U.S. Air Force after 26 years and countless moves around the globe. His daughter, Ashley, is now following in his footsteps, preparing to graduate from the University of Kansas and head to Air Force pilot training.
Doug Smith, also an Air Force veteran with a 30-year career, recently retired and settled in Colorado Springs. He reflected on his 16–17 moves over the course of his service and his long tenure in a variety of global posts—everything from Alaska and Hawaii to Korea and Afghanistan. Doug’s pride in the professionalism of the U.S. military was clear, especially as he spoke about his role in the response on September 11, 2001, when his base in Minot, North Dakota quickly transitioned from an exercise to a live wartime posture, launching fully-loaded B-52 bombers as part of the national defense.
Jeff Vignery, the youngest of the three, served 21 years in the U.S. Navy and now lives in Colorado. His story was perhaps the most jaw-dropping of all: Jeff was part of the crew aboard a Navy EP-3 aircraft that was forced to make an emergency landing in China in 2001 after a Chinese fighter jet collided with their plane. For 11 days, Jeff and his 23 crewmates were held in Hainan, unsure of what would happen next. While he recounted the intense emergency landing and the interrogation that followed, he also praised the rigorous training and teamwork that helped the crew survive and navigate that international crisis.
Stories of Courage—and Connection
Pat shared his experience flying combat missions in Iraq, Kosovo, and Afghanistan, and described in vivid detail a moment when he was able to protect American troops under fire using the F-16’s advanced targeting systems.
Doug also spoke about his intelligence work later in his career, which included supporting the historic SEAL Team Six mission that led to the takedown of Osama bin Laden in Pakistan. His airmen—some as young as 18—provided real-time video support from drones, playing a key role in the mission's success without even knowing what they were helping to monitor.
The stories weren’t all heavy. The trio shared laughs about growing up in Goodland, memories from high school, and the shared bond that kept their class connected across decades and continents. They joked about rivalries, reunion antics, and even a hometown air show years ago where Pat—flying an F-16—made a dramatic vertical climb while speaking to the crowd below over the radio.
Hometown Heroes
All three veterans emphasized one thing clearly: their journeys began in Goodland.
“This is where it started for us,” said Doug Smith. “Growing up in Goodland gave us the foundation we needed—hard work, humility, service to others.”
The interview was a powerful reminder that while many of our nation’s defenders travel the world, their stories, values, and sense of purpose often begin in small towns like Goodland, Kansas.
To hear the full show from July 25, 2025 listen here on demand on the link below
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