William Adolph England (1927 - 2014)

Born 12 Feb 1927 in Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 7 Jan 2014 at age 86 in Jacksonville, Florida

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Bryan Lugo [send private message]

Biography

Bill England was born in 1927 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. His parents were Adolph England and Helen Wipperman. His brother was named Alfred England. Bill was an Apprentice Machinist with the Railroad before joining the U. S. Navy.

Military Service

Bill served in the United States Navy from 1944 to 1980 and retired Honorably as a Chief Petty Officer with an SKC rating and over 35 years of service. Bill fought in three major wars: World War II, Korea and Vietnam. His military service records reads like a novel. This Letter of Appreciation from W.R. Hodge, Captain, USN delivered at his retirement ceremony, summarizes some of his accomplishments:

From: Officer in Charge, U.S. Naval Detachment, Souda Bay To: Chief Storekeeper William A. ENGLAND, USN, 387-22-2981 Subj: Letter of Appreciation

1. On behalf of the President, the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of the Navy and the Chief of Naval Operations I wish to express their deep appreciation for your long and honorable service to the United States of America. For more than 35 years of Federal Service and more than 20 years active Naval Service, you have distinguished yourself in every capacity in which you were required to serve. I would, therefore, like to highlight your Naval career which began in 1944 and ends in just a few short days.

You initially enlisted in October 1944 and went through Recruit Training at RTC, Great Lakes, Illinois. Upon completion you were transferred to Ft. Pierce, Florida where you completed UDT and Amphibious Training. Upon completion of that training you were transferred to the USS BAYFIELD (APA-33) where you participated in the invasions of Iwo Jima and Okinawa. You were subsequently transferred to the USS MONTAUK (LSV-6) and sent to Tsing Tau, China where you assisted securing a Japanese suicide boat base. When the second world war ended you were transferred to USS TEKESTA (ATF-93) which was homeported in Shang Hai, China. As a Seaman in August 1946 you were transferred to Treasure Island, California for separation from active duty and transferred to the Naval Reserve.

You returned to active duty in February 1947 as an SK3 for 13 months being assigned to duty with a Traveling Recruiting Unit and Mobile Exhibit Team. You were again released to inactive duty in March 1948 as a SK3.

As an SK3 in August of 1950 you were again recalled to active duty during the Korean Conflict and served aboard the APB-38 until October 1952 when you were released to inactive duty as an SK2.

In June of 1960, you were once again recalled to active duty and assigned to the USS HUNT (DD-674) where you served until June 1962 when you were released to inactive duty.

In August 1965 you were again returned to active duty as an SK2 under the Training and Administration of Reserve (TAR) Program where you were subsequently assigned to duty at AFRTC Dayton, Ohio as an Instructor until July 1970. You were awarded the Navy Commendation Medal for superior performance of duty while serving in that capacity.

From July 1970 to March 1972 you were assigned to duty at the Naval Support Activity, New Orleans, LA. It was during this tour that you transferred to the U.S. Navy.

From April 1972 to August 1972 you were transferred to temporary duty under instruction at the Naval Amphibious Base, Coronado, California during which time you were advanced to the rate of SK1.

From August 1972 to March 1973 you were assigned to the Naval Advisory Group/Naval Support Activity, Saigon, Republic of Vietnam.

From March 1973 to October 1973 you were assigned to duty in USS WALDRON (DD-690) homeported in Mayport, Florida where you were a member of the decommissioning crew. Upon decommissioning you were reassigned to duty in USS MEREDITH (DD-890) until February 1976.

From February 1976 until February 1979 you were assigned to duty at the U. S. Naval Station, Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico, during which time you were advanced to your present rate of SKC. While serving at Roosevelt Roads you were intimately involved in the evacuation of survivors from the Jonestown Massacre and subsequently with the transportation of the remains of the victims. For your dedicated and outstanding performance of duty under trying conditions you were awarded the Navy Achievement Medal.

From March 1979 until March 1980 you were assigned to duty at U.S. Naval Detachment, Souda Bay where you served as the Assistant Supply Officer and Air Cargo Officer. During this tour you were awarded a Gold Star in lieu of a second Navy Achievement Medal for professional achievement in the superior performance of duties while serving as Air Terminal Manager and Acting Supply Officer.

2. A review of your service record reveals that you have been awarded the following Awards and Decorations:

Navy Commendation Medal
Navy Achievement Medal (2 awards)
Presidential Unit Citation Ribbon
Navy Unit Commendation Ribbon
Good Conduct Medal (4 awards)
Naval Reserve Meritorious Service Medal (2 awards)
China Service Medal
American Campaign Medal
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with Asia Clasp
World War II Victory Medal
Navy Occupation Service Medal with Asia Clasp
National Defense Service Medal (2 awards)
Naval Reserve Medal
Vietnam Campaign Medal (3 awards)
Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm
Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Medal with Palm
Republic of Vietnam Navy Service Medal
Vietnam Service Medal

3. In this, the culmination of your distinguished Naval Career, I wish to express the heartfelt thanks and gratitude of your country, our Navy, myself and every member of this command. You have proven to be an extraordinarily gifted leader. Your contributions and legacy will have a long lasting affect on each of us. To you then Chief Petty Officer England, and your family, I personally wish you fair winds and following seas as you enter retirement from the U.S. Navy in which you have served with such distinction.

W.R. Hodge Captain, U.S. Navy^[1]

Post Military Service and Volunteering

After retiring from the U. S. Navy, Bill worked for the Naval Security and Investigative Command the precursor to today's NCIS. While there, he and his partner Joan Moon "found" $3.5M of P-3 and C-130 aircraft components the Navy lost while in the supply chain.^[2].

Bill volunteered with the Northeast Chapter of the American Red Cross for many years. He was an active member from 1988 until his death in 2014. As a volunteer with the Red Cross, he managed disaster relief efforts during national emergencies such as Hurricanes Andrew^[3] and Katrina and the September 11th attacks. Bill managed all the food services in New York City for the Red Cross during those trying days following the attack^[4].

Death

His obituary reads: "William "Bill" England, 86, of Keystone Heights, FL passed away after a brief illness on January 7, 2014. He was born on February 12, 1927 to parents, Adolph Peter and Helen Wipperman England in Milwaukee, WI. Bill was a longtime resident of Clay County and a member of Harbor Baptist Church. He served his country honorably in the United States Navy and was a WW II veteran, retired. Bill worked for Milwaukee Railroad as a machinist and retired civil service at NAS Jax and was a member of the Fleet Reserve, American Legion and Disabled American Veterans. He was a volunteer with the Northeast Florida Chapter of the American Red Cross for more than 20 years. Bill specialized in the area of Mass Care, handling the oversight of food preparation and distribution for large and small disasters both in Northeast Florida and nationwide. In addition to his countless local disaster operations, Bill volunteered on 36 national relief assignments for the Red Cross, including Hurricanes Andrew, Katrina and Wilma; the recovery and support operations associated with the 9/11 attacks; and many tornadoes and flood operations across the nation. Locally, Bill served as a member of the Clay County Disaster Action Team, responding to local house fires, floods and other family emergencies. He was qualified as an Emergency Response Vehicle (ERV) driver and also coordinated Chapter ERV operations and trained new vehicle crews for the region. As a leadership volunteer and expert in the field of Mass Care, Bill was an integral part of Red Cross exercises and drills throughout North Florida. He was very generous with his time and talents, serving as mentor and instructor for the next generation of Red Cross volunteers. Through his strong community connections and reputation for selfless service, Bill also served as an ambassador for Red Cross, able to bring together local nonprofit agencies, faith groups and his many friends whenever the situation required. He also was a volunteer with the Clay County Sheriff's office in Penney Farms and Keystone Heights. Bill was predeceased by his parents and his loving wife of 62 years, June England and is survived by 3 children, Sandra E. Lugo, David England and Hollie England; brother, Alfred "Bud" England; 2 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made in his memory to Harbor Baptist Church, 1120 Clay St, Fleming Island, FL 32003. A visitation will be on Thursday, January 9, 2014 from 5:00 pm until 7:00 pm in the Broadus-Raines Chapel. A graveside service will be on Friday January 10, 2014 at 10:30 am at the Jacksonville National Cemetery, 4083 Lannie Rd, Jacksonville, FL 32218. Please sign the family's online register book at www.broadusraines.com. Arrangements are under the care of Broadus-Raines Funeral Home, 501 Spring St., Green Cove Springs, FL (904) 284-4000.

Sources

1. ↑ US Navy Letter of Appreciation. WR Hodge, Captain, Officer in Charge, U.S. Naval Detachment, Souda Bay, Crete. 21 March 1980.
2. ↑ Letter of Appreciation, T.R. O'Conner, Commanding Officer, Naval Aviation Depot, North Island. 14 Apr 1988.
3. ↑ Weathersbee, Tonyaa. "For veteran, volunteering is payback." Florida Times-Union. Feb 25, 1998
4. ↑ Author Unknown. "Bill England: Response 'awesome and heartwarming'". The Times-Union, Jacksonville, Florida. Sept 1, 2002. p. G-6.

• personal knowledge of Bryan Lugo