|
| William Goodjohn Fuller
|
| NO. 17894 • 6 Jan 1927 - 29 Jul 1974 |
Died 29 July 1974 in New Braunfels, TX
Interment: Ft. Sam Houston Cemetery, San Antonio, TX
|
William Goodjohn Fuller was born at Ft. Bliss, where his father was serving as a major in the
Calvary. As an "Army brat," "Bill" became familiar with
military life from traveling with his family and his interaction with his
grandfather, COL Ezra Fuller, Class of 1873, and uncle, MG Horace H. Fuller,
Class of 1909. From his grandfather, he heard about Calvary actions during the
Indian Wars and, from his uncle, he learned about WW1 and more about life at
the Academy. It was no surprise that Bill became interested in West Point and
the military. That interest became more focused after his father transferred to
Ft. Sam Houston. The close proximity to Randolph Field, then known as the
"West Point of the Air," allowed Bill to observe frequent military
flights, thus developing a love of flying and a desire to become a military
aviator.
While at Ft. Sam Houston, Bill's father retired from the Army and the
family settled in Kerrville, TX, not far from Randolph. Bill continued to
observe the training flights, commenting about the quality of their formations
and his passion for flying grew as he entered Tivy High School in Kerrville. He
studied hard to obtain grades that would qualify him for an Academy appointment
from Texas. Unfortunately, there were no vacancies in Texas but Bill succeeded
in obtaining an appointment from Representative Albert M. Cole of Kansas. Bill
then attended Sullivan's Preparatory School to prepare for the entrance
examinations. His exertions paid off-he passed all the requirements.
Bill's dreams were on their way to fulfillment but he began to
experience academic difficulties at West Point and was turned back at the end
of the first semester. Undaunted, he reentered Sullivan's for additional
academic preparation. That decision proved to be a wise one and the Academy
accepted him for entrance with the Class of '50. Bill became even more
determined to improve his class standing to ensure he would be able to choose a
military flying career at graduation. His academic progress allowed him to
participate for four years as the student manager of Armys championship
football teams and to earn his "A" letter. He took part in other cadet
activities and clubs, experiences through which he developed lasting
friendships.
Bill achieved his goal with an assignment as a student pilot in the
Air Force and was assigned to Randolph AFB for Basic Flight Training. He was
on home ground. Flying was natural for him and he was the first of his group
to solo in the T-6 trainer. More significantly, after that first
solo flight, he received more good news-his "old flame," Lee Grebe, daughter of COL Alfred A. Grebe, an Army
physician, accepted Bill's marriage proposal.
Lee Fuller adjusted readily to life at
Randolph and was delighted to accompany Bill to Williams AFB, where he entered advanced jet flight training.
The transition to jet aircraft was done without difficulty and Lee pinned
the silver wings of an Air Force pilot onto his uniform. Next, Bill
attended F-84 jet combat crew training at Luke AFB, where numerous classmates also were
undergoing combat crew training. That was perhaps the largest gathering of the
class pilots since graduation, a mini-reunion. Then, Bill was assigned to
the 49th Fighter Bomber Wing in Korea, where he completed
100 combat missions flying the F-84. His skills and leadership led to his
selection as a flight commander and his accomplishments earned him the Distinguished
Flying Cross and three Air Medals. Bill went home for a
well-earned leave to join Lee and his newborn son, William G., Jr., before
reporting to Luke AFB as an F-84 combat crew training instructor. That was an
ideal flying assignment for Bill and lasted for six years.
The advent of Sputnik and other missile flights prompted Bill to
volunteer for missile training, afterwhich he was assigned as a Thor missile
alert officer in the United Kingdom. The Fullers lived in the English
countryside and exposed their English neighbors to the American lifestyle and
vice-versa. In 1961, the Fullers transferred to Vandenberg AFB and,
later, Bill was assigned to SAC Headquarters in Nebraska. Although the work
was interesting, he missed the excitement and camaraderie found in fighter
units. During those assignments, sons Sam and Peter joined the Fuller family.
Bill desired to be part of the ongoing war in Southeast Asia and
volunteered for F-4 aircraft transition training at MacDill AFB. The
speed and advances in firepower of the F-4 Phantom jet amazed him-that
was his kind of airplane! In October 1966, he completed training and underwent
combat indoctrination training at Cam Rahn Bay Air Base in South Viet Nam. His
flying skills distinguished him as a superior fighter pilot and he was
appointed 557th Tactical Fighter Squadron Commander, a prized assignment sought
by many but gained by few. Bill flew 100 combat sorties over North Viet Nam and
85 ground support sorties in South Viet Nam. When he finished his combat tour
in 1967, his outstanding performances earned him another Distinguished Flying
Cross, 12 Air Medals, and the Air Force Commendation Medal.
Bill returned to the States to rejoin his family at Randolph AFB, where
his Air Force career began. He had come full circle. It was an ideal assignment
and he felt as if he had never left Randolph. He enjoyed being with young air
cadets and officers, who made him feel young, Bill began to develop health problems
that were diagnosed as stomach ulcers. In 1972, after discussing the situation
with Lee and the doctors, COL William Fuller retired from the U.S. Air Force.
Although the decision to retire was difficult, Bill adjusted quickly to
civilian life and, from his retirement home near Randolph AFB, he continued to
observe the training flights overhead. Neither his love of flying nor his
energetic approach to life ever left him. Bill was not ready to "fade
away." He had more time for other activities and pursued the establishment
of a summer camp for impoverished children. That camp would treat them equally
and fairly, and give them the experiences that would help them become
productive citizens. Bill spent hours writing to likely donors and church
groups to obtain their support and financial backing. During one trip, Bill's car
left the road and struck a tree near New Braunfels, TX. He was thrown from the
vehicle and declared dead at the scene. Bill received full military honors and
was laid to rest in the Ft. Sam Houston Cemetery. As the flight of three Air
Force planes soared overhead during his interment, one could believe that his
spirit had sped to rejoin his Academy roommates, Gene A. Dennis and Robert A.
Williams, who preceded him in death many years before. Those three individuals
had "escaped the surly bonds of earth and touched the face of God."
Their mission is complete and now they are at peace.
- William G. Fuller '50
|
USMA 1950