More detail on this person: William (Bill) F.
O'Connell - (note: called "Bill", F. in middle
name stands for Francis) was born July 2, 1933 in
Providence, R.I. and died March 29, 1976 in
Cranston, R.I., at age 42 from Hemorrhage
(Pancreatic).
Rank in Vietnam: Captain (1965-66); Major (1969)
Served: 21+ years, Honorable Discharge in 1975
U.S. Army Flight Training: Fixed Wing - Fort
Rucker, AL, (USAAVNS) Officer Class 62-10;
Rotary Wing - Fort Wolters, TX (USAPHS), Officer
Class (? # 65-1QA?) dates July 1964-(?
Sept.64).
Served on active duty with U.S. Army in Vietnam:
During his 1st tour in 1965-66, he was a Rotary
Wing Aviator (Counter-Insurgency) he flew Huey
(UH-1, UH-1D) Helicopters with A. Co. 501st Avn
Bn; and he also was an Aviation Operations Officer
and Assistant Division Liaison Officer with HHD
145th Avn Bn & Hq 145th Combat Support Aviation
Battalion, managing the Airfield (Bien Hoa) RW/FW
Aviation Operations, responsible for directing,
planning, coordinating, scheduling, dispatching
123 rotary wing and 46 fixed wing aircraft, (note:
Aviation Battalion consisted of 3 assault
helicopter companies, 1 armed helicopter
company, 2 reconnaissance airplane companies),
as follows: Nov. 1965 - Jan. 1966 - Rotary Wing
Aviator (Counter-Insurgency), Airlift Platoon
Section Leader, with A. Co. 501st Avn Bn (note:
unit call name Rattlers-Firebirds, unit
name-number later changed, now called 71st Avn
Bn) USARPAC-Vietnam (flew helicopter combat
assault missions). Feb. 1966 - June 1966 -
Operations Officer, Assistant Division Ln Officer
(Counter-Insurgency) with HHD 145th Avn Bn
USARPAC-Vietnam (also flew helicopter combat
assault missions). June 1966 - Oct. 1966 -
Assistant Division Ln Officer (Counter-Insurgency)
with Hq 145th Cbt Spt Avn Bn
USARPAC-Vietnam.
During his second tour of duty in Vietnam in 1969
I'm not sure if he flew much or at all, he was an
S-1 (? Battalion or Battery Staff Officer) with
the HHB 1st Cavalry Division Artillery (Air
Mobile), 1st Cavalry Division (Air Mobile)
USARPAC-Vietnam. He was hospitalized shortly
after his arrival and later sent home during the
Nixon troop withdrawal the summer of 1969, as
follows: June - July 1969 - HHB 1st Cav Div Arty
(AM) 1st Cav Div (AM) USARPAC-Vietnam.
Decorations from Vietnam Service years: Bronze
Star w/ Oak Leaf Cluster (1966 & 1969), Air Medal
w/ (6) Oak Leaf Cluster (1966), Vietnam Service
Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal w/ 60
Device, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Medal
w/ Palm (unit award), Army Aviator Badge.
From: Karen (O'Connell) Bourland
This information was last updated 05/18/2016
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Date posted on this site: 03/10/2024
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