HARRELL WILLIAM F

COL William "Bill" F. Harrell was a potential VHPA member who died after his tour in Vietnam on 04/30/1969 at the age of 46.9 from Natural causes.
Cherry Point Marine Corp, NC
Date of Birth 06/11/1922
Served in the U.S. Marine Corps
Served in Vietnam with VMO-2
This information was provided by Ben Brenneman

More detail on this person: Col. Harrell, Marine Corps Pilot, Dies Word has been received here of the death of Col. William F. Harrell, USMC, on April 30 at the Naval Hospital in Portsmouth, Va. He was a former resident of Charleston. Memorial services were held May 2 at the memorial chapel at the Marine Corps Air Station, Cherry Point, N.C. Burial with full military honors was held May 5 at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington Va. Col. Harrell completed his aviation training of April of 1944 and 1946 became one of the first commanding officers of Bogue Field. Col. Harrell served with Marine Air Group-1 at Cherry Point from May 16, 1947 to May 25, 1950. He later served as a helicopter pilot for former President Dwight D. Eisenhower and completed an 11-nation tour with the chief executive in the latter part of 1959. After completing tours of duty at various Marine Corps air stations and overseas in Korea and Vietnam, Col. Harrell returned to Cherry Point on Nov. 5, 1968, and served with the air station's administrative office (G-1) until his death. Among his decorations are two Distinguished Flying Crosses, the Bronze Star Medal with Combat V, 30 Air Medals and the Combat Action Ribbon. His unit citations include the Presidential Unit Citation with three stars and the Korean Presidential Unit Citation. Col. Harrell's campaign and service awards include the American Campaign Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, NATO Service Medal, National Defense Medal with one star and the World War II Victory Medal. Surviving are: his widow, Mrs. Patricia Malcolm Harrell of Charleston; two daughters, Miss Margaret Harrell and Miss Patricia Harrell, both of Charleston; and his mother of Bainbridge, Ga.

Burial information: Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA

This information was last updated 09/01/2018

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Date posted on this site: 03/10/2024


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