CHICAGO (AP) – Patrick McNamee was 17 when the car he was driving crashed in Illinois in 1954, killing his best friend. After pleading guilty to reckless homicide and serving time in jail plus probation, McNamee went on to join the U.S. Marines and Air Force, flying some 1,700 missions in Vietnam and earning more than 75 air medals.
But the conviction stayed with him.
On Wednesday, Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner granted a clemency request from the now 79-year-old, who said he applied in part because he wasn’t able to get a concealed carry firearm permit due to his felony record.
“In 11½ years in the service I always carried a weapon. That didn’t make much sense to me,” said McNamee, who lives in Huntington Beach, California.
He said he considered asking for clemency for about 10 years before he actually did so in 2014.