Richard L. McKinley - The only person buried in a lead coffin in Arlington.

[Basil]

There were two others, but they are buried in different states (New York and Michigan)

SP4 Richard Leroy McKinley (1933-1961) - Find a...

Nuclear Accident Fatality. At the time of his death, his rank was Specialist 4th Class, United States Army serving with the Engineer Corps as a 52H-Nuclear Power Plant Mechanic Operator. On January 3, 1961 at 9:01pm, alarms sounded at the fire station and security headquarters of the U.S...

www.findagrave.com

 

[John Turney]

The accident was discussed in our nuclear power school class.

 

[DrEntropy]

"McKinley was the youngest at twenty-two years old. He had joined the military in 1957. Korean Conflict veteran. He also earned a Cold War Certificate".

Something a bit odd there...

 

[waltesefalcon]

"McKinley was the youngest at twenty-two years old. He had joined the military in 1957. Korean Conflict veteran. He also earned a Cold War Certificate".

Something a bit odd there...

Yeah, how was he a Korean vet if he joined in 57?

 

[Basil]

Yeah, how was he a Korean vet if he joined in 57?

That's an excellent observation.

 

[NutmegCT]

I'm thinking that Find-A-Grave isn't the best source of historical information ...

 

[Basil]

I'm thinking that Find-A-Grave isn't the best source of historical information ...

I’m thinking it was a simple typo on the date he joined. If I was going to hazard a guess I suspect the 7 is supposed to be a 1.
His head stone does, in fact, indicate he was a veteran of the Korea conflict.