HONORED ON PANEL 3W, LINE 54 OF THE WALL
WILLIAM EDWARD ADAMS
WALL NAME
WILLIAM E ADAMS
PANEL / LINE
3W/54
DATE OF BIRTH
CASUALTY PROVINCE
DATE OF CASUALTY
HOME OF RECORD
COUNTY OF RECORD
STATE
BRANCH OF SERVICE
RANK
REMEMBRANCES
LEFT FOR WILLIAM EDWARD ADAMS
POSTED ON 12.7.2001
A Father Like Commander
I met Major Adams the second day I was assigned to the 227th at Lie Khe. I liked him right from the start. I was a door gunner and flew many missions with him between September 1970 and May 1971. He was a strong commander and a gentle leader. I was 19 years old and looked to him for not only military guidance but direction in life as well. I was transferred to another unit one week before the tragedy. I have visited him at The Wall and I still think of him often. His life touched me in ways no one will ever know. I often visited with him at night and his responsiblity weighed heavy on him. We had a bond that few officers and enlisted men have. I believe he is in the loving arms of God and I hope someday to see him there and tell him how much he influenced my life.
May God bless all who read this.
May God bless all who read this.
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POSTED ON 3.19.2001
POSTED BY: CLAY MARSTON
IN REMEMBRANCE OF THIS MOST HEROIC POSTHUMOUS RECIPIENT OF THE CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR
MAJOR
WILLIAM EDWARD ADAMS
who served as a
HELICOPTER PILOT
with
A / 227th ASSAULT HELICOPTER COMPANY
52nd AVIATION BATTALION
17th AVIATION GROUP
1st AVIATION BRIGADE
and was a posthumous recipient of the
CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR
rests in honored glory at
FORT LOGAN NATIONAL CEMETERY
plot number P-3831
DENVER, COLORADO
THE PROUD YOUNG VALOR THAT ROSE ABOVE THE MORTAL
AND THEN, AT LAST, WAS MORTAL AFTER ALL
YOU ARE NOT FORGOTTEN
NOR SHALL YOU EVER BE
************************************************************
CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR
was presented to his family
on 8 August 1974
at Blair House by the
Vice-President of the United States
Gerald R. Ford
WILLIAM EDWARD ADAMS
who served as a
HELICOPTER PILOT
with
A / 227th ASSAULT HELICOPTER COMPANY
52nd AVIATION BATTALION
17th AVIATION GROUP
1st AVIATION BRIGADE
and was a posthumous recipient of the
CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR
rests in honored glory at
FORT LOGAN NATIONAL CEMETERY
plot number P-3831
DENVER, COLORADO
THE PROUD YOUNG VALOR THAT ROSE ABOVE THE MORTAL
AND THEN, AT LAST, WAS MORTAL AFTER ALL
YOU ARE NOT FORGOTTEN
NOR SHALL YOU EVER BE
************************************************************
CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR
was presented to his family
on 8 August 1974
at Blair House by the
Vice-President of the United States
Gerald R. Ford
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POSTED ON 5.31.1999
POSTED BY: Fulton
Medal of Honor
Medal of Honor
ADAMS, WILLIAM E.
Rank and organization: Major, U.S. Army, A/227th Assault Helicopter Company, 52d Aviation Battalion, 1st Aviation Brigade
Place and Date: Kontum Province, Republic of Vietnam, 25 May 1971
Entered Service at: Kansas City, Missouri
Born: 16 June 1939, Casper, Wyoming
Citation:
Maj. Adams distinguished himself on 25 May 1971 while serving as a helicopter pilot in Kontum Province in the Republic of Vietnam. On that date Maj. Adams volunteered to fly a lightly armed helicopter in an attempt to evacuate 3 seriously wounded soldiers from a small fire base which was under attack by force. He made the decision with full knowledge that numerous anti-aircraft weapons were positioned around the base and that the clear weather would afford the enemy gunners an unobstructed view of all routes into the base. As he approached the base, the enemy gunners opened fire with heavy machine guns, rocket-propelled grenades and small arms. Undaunted by the fusillade, he continued his approach determined to accomplish the mission. Displaying tremendous courage under fire, he calmly directed the attacks of supporting gun ships while maintaining absolute control of the helicopter he was flying. He landed the aircraft at the fire base despite the ever-increasing enemy fire and calmly waited until the wounded soldiers were placed on board. As his aircraft departed from the fire base, it was struck and seriously damaged by enemy anti-aircraft fire and began descending. Flying with exceptional skill, he immediately regained control of the crippled aircraft and attempted a controlled landing. Despite his valiant efforts, the helicopter exploded, overturned, and plummeted to earth amid the hail of enemy fire. Maj. Adams' conspicuous gallantry, intrepidity, and humanitarian regard for his fellow man were in keeping with the most cherished traditions of the military service and reflected the utmost credit on him and the U.S. Army.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--- General / Personal ---
Last name: ADAMS
First name: WILLIAM EDWARD
Home of Record (official): FORT COLLINS
State (official): CO
Date of Birth: Friday, June 16, 1939
Sex: Male
Race: Caucasian
Marital Status: Married
--- Military ---
Branch: Army
Rank: MAJ
Serial Number: 521482167
Component: Regular
Pay grade: O4
MOS (Military Occupational Specialty code): 1983
--- Action ---
Start of Tour: Monday, July 6, 1970
Date of Casualty: Tuesday, May 25, 1971
Age at time of loss: 31
Casualty type: (A3) Hostile, died while missing
Reason: Air loss - Crashed on land (Pilot - Helicopter)
Country: South VietNam
Province: Kontum
The Wall: Panel 03W - Row 054
ADAMS, WILLIAM E.
Rank and organization: Major, U.S. Army, A/227th Assault Helicopter Company, 52d Aviation Battalion, 1st Aviation Brigade
Place and Date: Kontum Province, Republic of Vietnam, 25 May 1971
Entered Service at: Kansas City, Missouri
Born: 16 June 1939, Casper, Wyoming
Citation:
Maj. Adams distinguished himself on 25 May 1971 while serving as a helicopter pilot in Kontum Province in the Republic of Vietnam. On that date Maj. Adams volunteered to fly a lightly armed helicopter in an attempt to evacuate 3 seriously wounded soldiers from a small fire base which was under attack by force. He made the decision with full knowledge that numerous anti-aircraft weapons were positioned around the base and that the clear weather would afford the enemy gunners an unobstructed view of all routes into the base. As he approached the base, the enemy gunners opened fire with heavy machine guns, rocket-propelled grenades and small arms. Undaunted by the fusillade, he continued his approach determined to accomplish the mission. Displaying tremendous courage under fire, he calmly directed the attacks of supporting gun ships while maintaining absolute control of the helicopter he was flying. He landed the aircraft at the fire base despite the ever-increasing enemy fire and calmly waited until the wounded soldiers were placed on board. As his aircraft departed from the fire base, it was struck and seriously damaged by enemy anti-aircraft fire and began descending. Flying with exceptional skill, he immediately regained control of the crippled aircraft and attempted a controlled landing. Despite his valiant efforts, the helicopter exploded, overturned, and plummeted to earth amid the hail of enemy fire. Maj. Adams' conspicuous gallantry, intrepidity, and humanitarian regard for his fellow man were in keeping with the most cherished traditions of the military service and reflected the utmost credit on him and the U.S. Army.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--- General / Personal ---
Last name: ADAMS
First name: WILLIAM EDWARD
Home of Record (official): FORT COLLINS
State (official): CO
Date of Birth: Friday, June 16, 1939
Sex: Male
Race: Caucasian
Marital Status: Married
--- Military ---
Branch: Army
Rank: MAJ
Serial Number: 521482167
Component: Regular
Pay grade: O4
MOS (Military Occupational Specialty code): 1983
--- Action ---
Start of Tour: Monday, July 6, 1970
Date of Casualty: Tuesday, May 25, 1971
Age at time of loss: 31
Casualty type: (A3) Hostile, died while missing
Reason: Air loss - Crashed on land (Pilot - Helicopter)
Country: South VietNam
Province: Kontum
The Wall: Panel 03W - Row 054
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