More detail on this person: CW4 (Retired)
William Thomas Hargrove, Sr. died on March 17,
2011. A native of Jackson County, he graduated
from Union Baptist Institute (Athens GA) in 1950.
He received his Associates Degree from Troy State
University in 1982 and his Bachelor's Degree in
Business Management from Troy State University in
1983. As a young man, William always dreamed of
flying and he accomplished that dream while
serving as a pilot for the United States Army. He
began his illustrious military career as an
enlisted soldier in 1951, served as a combat
engineer in Korea, and was a 1955 graduate of
"Camp" Rucker's 12th Warrant Officer Candidate
class. He served as an YH-40 test pilot,
rotary-wing instructor, aircraft maintenance
officer, Presidential support pilot, Vietnam
combat aviator, and VIP pilot. After being
awarded his Army Aviator wings and Warrant Officer
rank, he was trained in the CH-34 helicopter and
assigned to Fort Rucker's Aircraft Test Activity
where he flew flight tests on many evolving Army
aircraft, including the "Huey" series (YH-40,
HU-1A, HU-1B, HU-1D). Following Warrant Officer
fixed-wing qualification in 1960, he was stationed
with the Southern European Task Force (SETAF)
where he attended the Italian Army aircraft
ski-school and was awarded the Italian Army
Aviation Badge, serving as a helicopter mountain
flying instructor pilot for Italian Army aviators
and a trainer for other UH-1 qualified Army
Aviators in SETAF. During Presidential visits,
CW4 Hargrove flew support for Mrs. Kennedy in
Greece in 1961 and for President Kennedy's 1963
Italy trip. In 1963, he piloted one of the SETAF
rescue helicopters when the huge landslide forced
a deluge of water over the Vajont Dam in the Piave
Valley killing more than 2,000 people. His
numerous mercy flight missions, high in the
Italian Alps earned him the Air Medal, the
Sikorsky "Winged-S" air rescue emblem and the
Italian Government Bronze Medal. Vietnam called
CW4 Hargrove in 1965, where he flew Hueys and
was a Field Maintenance Officer with the 151st
Transportation Detachment. Returning to Fort
Benning in 1966, he gained additional aircraft
maintenance experience as a Detachment Cdr.
Back in Vietnam in 1968, William flew as UH-1
Aircraft Commander on all missions flown by MG
Robert R. Williams, CG of the 1st Aviation
Brigade. From 1969-1974, assigned again to Fort
Benning, he was an aircraft maintenance Shop
Platoon Leader, flew the stars during the filming
of "The Green Berets" and served on the Officer's
Club Board of Governors.
Upon his retirement in 1981, CW4 Hargrove left
Army Aviation a "legacy of duty" as Master Army
Aviator, with 7200 accident-free flying hours,
1200 combat flight hours, and 22 aircraft type
qualifications and in 1998 was inducted into the
Army Aviation Hall of Fame. His more than 50
medals and awards include the Air Medal w/28 Oak
Leaf Clusters and service ribbons and decorations
from Korea, Italy and Vietnam. In 1986, William
returned to Athens, Georgia where he immediately
became involved in community and civic activities,
serving as a member of the Alpha Phi Alpha Eta
Iota Lambda Chapter, assistant Boy Scout Leader
(Troop 350), and from 1996 - 2003, he served as
the President of the Athens Area Human Relations
Council, Inc. He was a member of the Union Baptist
Institute Alumni Association, Masonic Electric
City Lodge Number 322 (Columbus, Georgia), a
32nd Degree Mason and a Shriner, a Life Member
of the United States Army Black Aviation
Association, Life Member of the Vietnam Helicopter
Pilots Association and at the time of his death,
served as a Deacon at Mount Sinai Baptist Church
in Bogart, GA.
In November 1992, he married Annie Jones and he
leaves to celebrate his life and carry on his
legacy four children (from a previous marriage to
Alberta B. Hargrove) Thomas Hargro, Jr., Cheryl
Hargrove Barnes, Gwendolyn Hargrove Ruff and
Timothy J. Hargrove; two sisters, Luradine
Timberlake (Queens NY) and Linda Guion (Brooklyn
NY); ten grandchildren, two great-granddaughters,
and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, close
friends and family. The late Rev. Dr. Martin
Luther King, Jr., once said, "Life's most
persistent and urgent question is, what are your
doing for others?" William chose to answer that
call and live his life to serve others. He was a
faithful servant and beloved child of God who
loved his family, fought for our nation, and
embraced his community. Of all his awards and
accomplishments, William's greatest joy was
proclaiming his personal experience in power of
prayer and his faith in God. William will be
dearly missed by the many lives he touched and all
those who were blessed to know him.
This information was last updated 05/18/2016
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Date posted on this site: 03/10/2024
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