More detail on this person: William Foster Baskett (Bill), age 74, died June 20, 2021 at Medical City Denton. He is now pain free after a long battle with cancer.
Bill was born on December 5, 1946 to Max and Dorothy Baskett. He married Catheryn Thien Nguyen on June 17, 1972 in Bedford, Texas. They have three children and five grandchildren.
He graduated high school from Pearland, Texas. He attended Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Florida and graduated from there in 1976.
Bill served in the Army for 21 years as a pilot. He is a Vietnam War Veteran. Retired as a CW4 in 1990, then moved to Lake Kiowa where he lived for 31 years. He started a second career as a pilot with Delta Connection for 15 years.
Bill's hobbies included fishing, camping, wood work, 3D printing, reading and always willing to provide service to his neighbors when called upon.
He is survived by his loving wife of 49 years, Cathy Baskett, his older brother Robert Baskett, his younger brother Bruce Baskett (Emily Untermeyer); his children Joseph Baskett (Connie) and Brian Baskett; his grandchildren Jacob, Sarah, Matthew and Rachel Baskett; his sister-in-law Ngoc Tran (Chau Lam); his nephews Rob Baskett (Holly) ,their son Brady Baskett, and Brad Baskett.
He is preceded in death by his parents Max and Dorothy Baskett; his mother in- law, Ba T. Dang; his daughter, Sandy Baskett and grandson, Andrew Baskett.
He will be greatly missed by his family, friends and neighbors.
The following is from Art Jetter:
Bill flew my wing on most of our ARA missions in Vietnam - maybe hundreds. Bill was a wonderful man, brilliant warrior, and incredible pilot. Cathy, his widow, was a domestic employee of our unit, Blue Max, in Vietnam. She and I had a good chat last week. Although she didn't say, I'm guessing his cancer was due to Agent Orange. She said Bill had suffered terribly.
Bill is on the right after bringing his Cobra back to Tay Ninh with 23mm AA holes in the engine compartment. The 23mm round tore a hydraulic line and blew the ECU off the turbine. This just after eliminating a mortar crew that was firing rounds into FSB Pace. FSB Pace was evacuated the following day. Best as I can remember, this was taken October 11, 1971.
Art
This information was last updated 01/23/2022
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Date posted on this site: 03/10/2024
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