Army Specialist Fourth Class William Joseph "Bill" McAtee

Images and notes by Bob Leathers

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Pictures from Bob Leathers: A 1996 rubbing from The Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C. (Panel 37W Line 31) 

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Bill McAtee (Bob Leathers Collection)

Bill McAtee: born September 16, 1948, died December 3, 1968 in Vietnam

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Let Us Remember
Army Specialist Fourth Class William Joseph "Bill" McAtee
Killed in Action, Vietnam

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Specialist Fourth Class William Joseph "Bill" McAtee, was born September 16, 1948 in Hanna Wyoming. His parents were Edward "Ed" and Willetta McAtee of Hanna.  Bill was killed in action on December 3, 1968 approximately 15 miles southwest of Phuoc Binh in The Republic of Vietnam.  He was 20 years, 2 months and 2 days old at the time of his death. Bill was a Specialist Fourth Class, serving in Company D, Second Batallion, 7th Calvary of  U.S. Army.  His body was removed from battle field, returned to the United States and buried in the Hanna Wyoming Cemetery. For his outstanding service, Bill was awarded the Silver Star for gallantry in action.  He also received the Bronze Star Metal, Air Metal and Purble Heart.
    

(Bob Leathers)

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If you are able,
Save for them a place
inside of you . . .
and save one backward glance
when you are leaving
for the places they can no longer go . . .
Be not ashamed to say
you loved them, though you may
or may not have always . . .
Take what they have left
and what they have taught you
with their dying
and keep it with your own . . .
And in that time
when men decide and feel safe
to call war insane,
take one moment to embrace
those gentle heroes
you left behind . . .

Poem by Maj. Michael Davis O'Donnell, from Vietnam, January 1, 1970. Reported missing in action March 24, 1970.
Taken from The Vietnam Vetrans Memorial Booklet 1994.

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