Army Specialist Fourth Class William Joseph "Bill" McAtee
Page by Bob Leathers with contributions from Gary McKenzie
Let Us Remember
Army Specialist Fourth Class William Joseph "Bill" McAtee
Killed in Action, Vietnam
Army Specialist Fourth Class William Joseph "Bill" McAtee
Killed in Action, Vietnam
Bill McAtee: born September 16, 1948, died December 3, 1968, in Vietnam
Bill McAtee (Bob Leathers Collection)
Pictures from Bob Leathers: A 1996 rubbing from The Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C. (Panel 37W Line 31)
Poem by Maj. Michael Davis O'Donnell, from Vietnam, January 1, 1970. Reported missing in action March 24, 1970.
Taken from The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Booklet 1994.
Taken from The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Booklet 1994.
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 . . .
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 . . .
Bill McAtee. Viet Nam. (Gary McKenzie Collection)
Bill McAtee. Viet Nam. (Gary McKenzie Collection)
WILLIAM JOSEPH McATEE - 1948-1968 - IN MEMORIAM
William Joseph McAtee, known to most of us as Bill, entered Hanna-Elk Mountain High School, September 1962. His studies were of utmost importance to him. With or without supervision, Bill would work diligently. He knew how to study and his school work always came first. At the time of his graduation, May, 1966, Bill had completed twenty-five units with an accumulative superior scholastic average. He was a member of the National Honor Society. He was offered both an academic and an athletic scholarship from the University of Wyoming, accepting the latter.
Bill was a versatile student. On the football field, on the basketball court, participating in class plays, singing with the Madrigals or playing his horn, he gave his best. He was selected on the All Conference Football and Basketball Teams, All State Basketball Team and he received several superior ratings for his musical abilities. He served as president of his class during his sophomore and junior year, president of the choir and “H” club. He was chosen by the student body as Homecoming King in 1965.
His infectious smile, his keen sense of humor and his pleasant disposition was an inspiration to all who knew him. Because of his dependability and his trustworthiness, Bill was often called upon to assist his teachers.
Not waiting to be drafted, he enlisted in the Armed Forces. His qualities of good leadership were recognized by his superiors.
In Viet Nam Specialist 4 McAtee was team leader of Company D, 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry. During a reconnaissance mission near Quan Loi, he was wounded, but in spite of his wounds, he continued to help suppress the enemy. He distributed ammunition and administered first aid to the wounded until he was mortally wounded himself.
For his military service he was awarded, posthumously, nine decorations. They were: the Silver Star, Bronze Star, Air Medal, Purple Heart, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Medal, and the Auto Rifle Badge.
Bill McAtee was a fine young man who loved his home, his church, his school, his home town, and his country. (Miss Inga Blaeckestad, Hanna High School Principal. Hanna - Elk Mountain Lookout from Gary McKenzie)
I Remember Bill
I remember Bill McAtee as one student from whom I received Valentines and Christmas cards when he was in junior high. He was studious, serious, conscientious, and took part in all school and community affairs. At that time he seemed more interested in the arts--music and literature. His big drive was to belong and to please his church and parents most of all. (Mrs. Pallesen, Hanna Grade School Teacher. Hanna - Elk Mountain Lookout from Gary McKenzie)
Bill McAtee
I remember Bill McAtee as one who enjoyed life to the fullest and one who wished to see everyone else enjoy it. He was proud of his achievements not because he had accomplished, but because of the happiness they brought to others. He had a personality which attracted older people, younger people, and people of his own age. He was never a visitor in our home--he was one of us. (Mrs. Johnson, Hanna High School Teacher)
I Remember Bill
I remember Bill--and the delight he found in literature. The story “Everyman” was to him a great discovery. The essays of Virginia Woolf intrigued him and he researched as many as he could find.
Bill also enjoyed writing and his compositions were creative and inspiring.
All activities appealed to Bill. As a top-notch scholar and athlete, most students would have wanted no more but Bill became an active member of the Speech Club and was rated among the top ten at State with his cutting from Up the Down Staircase.
Yes, I remember Bill, and wish there were more students like him. I am most fortunate to have been one of his teachers. (Mrs. Golden, Hanna High School Teacher. Hanna - Elk Mountain Lookout from Gary McKenzie)
Bill McAtee
I saw the remember segment for BIll McAtee on the website. He was a senior when I was in junior high, and one summer - fall day he let me play basketball with him on the old grade school concrete basketball court between the school on the hill and the high school back then. (Remember the only 8 foot high rims?) It was just the two of us- I was an awkward 13 year old growing teenager and I'm sure he didn't know who I was, but he took the time to show me some stuff. He didn't have to- he was way older - heading off to UW. I never forgot that day or him. I did a little bit of a deep dive to find out what happened to him in Vietnam as he died when I was sophomore in high school, it was devastating to our whole community. Some of the memos and articles of that day back in 1968 in Viet Nam are disturbing. But I am sending you a few items that I think mean alot to his memory. You probably already have some of these. We had to play a basketball game against Pine Bluffs right after he died, and we told coach Ed McAtee that we would win the game for Bill and him. There was no way anyone thought we would win- Pine Bluffs starting lineup had three 6'5" players, and the tallest guys for us was my brother Kenny at 6'1" and me at 5'10". We won. (Gary McKenzie)
Bill McAtee. Hanna - Elk Mountain High School. (Gary McKenzie Collection)
McAtee, William J.
Cemetery: Hanna
Headstone: “Sep. 16, 1948 - Dec. 3, 1968; WY SP4 VIETNAM”
Plot: 433
Born: Sept. 16, 1948
Died: Dec. 3, 1968
Age: 20 y's, 2 m's, 17 d's
Note: 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 Binh Phuoc Province 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 Battalion, 7th Calvary of the U.S. Army. His body was removed from battlefield, 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 Purple Heart.
Note: Nine decorations were awarded posthumously March 29 to William J. McAtee, son of Mr. And Mrs. Edward McAtee of Hanna. McAtee was killed in Vietnam action Dec. 3, 1968. In a ceremony at the ROTC offices at the Half Acre gym in Laramie, Col. W. Thomas Reeder, professor of military science at UW, presented the medals to McAtee’s parents. One of the decorations was the Silver Star, third highest award for valor in the nation. The citation read: “For gallantry in action while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam, Specialist Four McAtee distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous action while serving as a team leader with Company D, 2nd Battalion, (Airmobile), 7th Cavalry during a reconnaissance in force mission near Quan Loi. “When his unit became heavily engaged with a numerically superior enemy force and the machine gunner was seriously wounded, Spec. 4 McAtee exposed himself to the intense hostile fire as he moved to the machine gun and placed accurate suppressive fire on the advancing enemy. “After the enemy’s attack had been halted, Spec. 4 McAtee began to administer first aid and evaluate the wounded personnel. Although injured himself, he continued to aid the casualties and distributed ammunition until he was mortally wounded. “Spec. 4 McAtee’s gallant action was in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service, and reflects great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.” Other decorations awarded to McAtee were the Bronze Star, The Air Medal for at least 25 missions involving aircraft--probably helicopters in this case; the Purple Heart for wounds received; the Good Conduct Medal; the National Defense Medal for serving in the armed forces; Vietnamese Service Medal for duty in Vietnam; Vietnamese Campaign Medal given by the government of Vietnam; and Auto-Rifle Badge for scoring sharpshooter.
Cemetery: Hanna
Headstone: “Sep. 16, 1948 - Dec. 3, 1968; WY SP4 VIETNAM”
Plot: 433
Born: Sept. 16, 1948
Died: Dec. 3, 1968
Age: 20 y's, 2 m's, 17 d's
Note: 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 Binh Phuoc Province 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 Battalion, 7th Calvary of the U.S. Army. His body was removed from battlefield, 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 Purple Heart.
Note: Nine decorations were awarded posthumously March 29 to William J. McAtee, son of Mr. And Mrs. Edward McAtee of Hanna. McAtee was killed in Vietnam action Dec. 3, 1968. In a ceremony at the ROTC offices at the Half Acre gym in Laramie, Col. W. Thomas Reeder, professor of military science at UW, presented the medals to McAtee’s parents. One of the decorations was the Silver Star, third highest award for valor in the nation. The citation read: “For gallantry in action while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam, Specialist Four McAtee distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous action while serving as a team leader with Company D, 2nd Battalion, (Airmobile), 7th Cavalry during a reconnaissance in force mission near Quan Loi. “When his unit became heavily engaged with a numerically superior enemy force and the machine gunner was seriously wounded, Spec. 4 McAtee exposed himself to the intense hostile fire as he moved to the machine gun and placed accurate suppressive fire on the advancing enemy. “After the enemy’s attack had been halted, Spec. 4 McAtee began to administer first aid and evaluate the wounded personnel. Although injured himself, he continued to aid the casualties and distributed ammunition until he was mortally wounded. “Spec. 4 McAtee’s gallant action was in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service, and reflects great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.” Other decorations awarded to McAtee were the Bronze Star, The Air Medal for at least 25 missions involving aircraft--probably helicopters in this case; the Purple Heart for wounds received; the Good Conduct Medal; the National Defense Medal for serving in the armed forces; Vietnamese Service Medal for duty in Vietnam; Vietnamese Campaign Medal given by the government of Vietnam; and Auto-Rifle Badge for scoring sharpshooter.
(Image by Bob Leathers)