More detail on this person: Colonel Arthur D. Bills, age 91, passed away on April 20, 2023. Colonel Bills was born on November 8, 1931 in Cohoes, New York. He was one of two children of Arthur F. Bills and Francis A. Quirk. He graduated from Christian Brothers Academy and Siena College. He was commissioned a Second Lieutenant of Artillery through ROTC in 1954. Upon entry into the United States Army, his first assignment was to war torn Korea where he served for 18 months with a tank battalion as a tank platoon leader. Thus began a long and decorated career in the United States Army. He served as both an Armor and Aviation Officer. He was duel rated in both helicopter and fixed wing aircraft, attaining master aviator status with 3400 flying hours. As a Captain, he commanded a helicopter company in combat with the 145th Aviation Battalion in Vietnam. He was awarded the Vietnam Gallantry Cross Medal with Bronze Star from the President of Vietnam, Nguyen Van Thieu. Colonel Bills took his passion for flying to Bangkok, Thailand where he served as the Aviation Advisor to the Royal Thai Army training new Thai pilots how to fly the Huey Helicopter. He would later command the historical unit, 3rd Squadron, 7th US Cavalry, "Garryowen" at the height of the Cold War in Schweinfurt, Germany. Following his attendance at the Air War College, he had several assignments in the Washington DC area with his final assignment as the Deputy Commander, Military District of Washington. Colonel Bills was decorated numerous times including the Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster, Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal, and the Army Commendation Medal. Colonel Bills retired in 1984. Following his military service, Colonel Bills entered corporate America working for Titan Corporation as a Program Manager, providing comprehensive training simulation and command and control systems for Department of Defense customers around the globe. He retired from corporate America in 1994. He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Mary Joan Bills, the love of his life; son, Michael (Megan) Bills; daughter, Susan Bills; daughter Colleen (Wayne) Baldwin; son, Timothy Bills; and daughter, Mary (Peter) Bisset; sister-in- law, Ann Marie Conley, 6 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren, multiple nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his grandson David Baldwin. His commitment was to his family, his faith, his honor, integrity, loyalty to his country and the United States Army. We can honor his legacy by loving and caring for each other and spreading joy through laughter every day.
This information was last updated 04/27/2023
Please send additions or corrections to: HQ@vhpa.org VHPA Headquarters
Return to the Helicopter Pilot DAT name list
Return to VHPA web site
Date posted on this site: 03/10/2024
Copyright © 1998 - 2024 Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association