09/05/2025
Meet our September Veteran of the Month, Bill D.
Bill D. wasn’t sure what he wanted to do after high school. He drifted through a few "boring" jobs until volunteering at the local Naval Air Base, where he joined the Crash Crew—a 24/7 operation in which sailors were trained to save the crew and extinguish fires on crashed naval aircraft. They were true first responders.
But it wasn’t all hard work. Bill also played on the Navy basketball team, flying to games in their own plane, competing against colleges, and earning a whole $10 per game (remember, back in the late ’40s).
After two years in the reserves, Bill enlisted in the Navy. Following boot camp, without much tech knowledge he chose fire control tech school—42 weeks of electronics training in D.C., close to home in Philly. His first of two combat tours came aboard the USS Toledo during the Korean War, where he served and remained until the end of his enlistment.
The Navy gave him memories... and a wife! At a YMCA dance, he met Jo. Engaged in three weeks, married in another three weeks, and together for 70 years; they raised two children, six grandchildren, and ten great-grandchildren—including a West Point–trained Lt. Colonel.
After six years of service, Bill joined Douglas Aircraft, contributing to projects from bombers to rockets and ballistic missiles. Jo often traveled with him but because he held a top secret security clearance, she didn’t always know where they were going. Bill is modest about his accomplishments but his contributions to the space effort are clear. When Bill talks about “putting things into space” he means it literally.
Bill D., Fire Control Technician Second Class—thank you for your service.
