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William "Bill" Douglas Fields
Jody Hane2021-12-06T16:36:56-06:00
- Name: William "Bill" Douglas Fields
- Location of Birth:
- Date of Birth: August 8, 1932
- Date of Death: September 19, 1998 (66 years old)
- Parents: Robert Fields and Theresa (Ladd) Fields
- High School and Class:
- College: Central Texas Collège - Copperas Cove, Texas
1988 - Itasca Community College, Grand Rapids, Minnesota (degree in business administration and accounting)
- Highest Rank: SFC (Sergeant First Class)
- Branch: Army
- Other Branch:
- Date Sworn In:
- Place Sworn In:
- Date of Discharge:
- Place of Discharge:
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- Military Awards:
Bronze Star
Air Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster
Army Commendation Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters
Purple Heart with five Oak Leaf Clusters
Combat Infantryman Badge with Star (Second Award)
- Military Highlights:
Bill retired from the United States Army in 1972, having served 24 years in the military. He served in Okinawa, two tours in Korea, and two tours in Europe, Vietnam, Thailand, as well as many bases in the United States. Bill served in the 7th Military Police and the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Armored Divisions, 101st Airborne, and 5th Special Forces.
- Wars Involved:
Korean Conflict
Vietnam Era
- MIA / POW:
- Civilian Life:
Bill grew up and attended schools in Chicago, Illinois.
He married Mary Wider on May 10, 1960, at Mason City, Iowa.
After his retirement, Bill attended Central Texas College in Copperas Cove, Texas and earned an associates degree in law.
Bill moved to the Leech Lake area in Minnesota were he lived for two years before moving to Grand Rapids, Minnesota in 1979.
Bill was a past member of the Civil Air Patrol, serving the Grand Rapids Squadron as Emergency Services Officer, Administrative Officer, Supply Officer and Deputy Commander for Cadets. He also served as director of Cadet programs for Minnesota Wing and was awarded the Wing's Senior Member of the Year Award in 1988. During his tenure as Deputy Commander for Cadets, he was a valuable member of the leadership team, which led the squadron to earn Squadron of the Year for Minnesota Wing in 1984, 1985, and 1986, and National Squadron of the Year in 1997.
He was active in Veterans of Foreign Wars, serving the Grand Rapids Post 1720 as member of the House Committee, Senior Vice Commander, Adjutant, Quartermaster and member of the Charitable Gambling Committee, the Military Order of the Cootie, serving Grand Rapids Pup Tent 44 as advocate and volunteer hospital van driver, Junior Vice Commander, Senior Vice Commander, two terms as Commander, and on various committees; the Range Vietnam Veterans Association and the Grand Rapids Chapter of the Vietnam Veterans of America, serving as Adjutant and color guard member; the Disabled American Veterans, Grand Rapids Chapter 13, serving as Adjutant, treasurer and color guard member; and the Grand Rapids American Legion Post 60.
He is survived by his wife, Mary; daughter, Denise M. Fields; son, Walter Fields; seven grandchildren and seven great-grandsons.
Preceding him in death were his parents; a brother, Robert in 1988; two sisters, Florence Spratt in 1972 and Erma Santo Paulo in 1976; and a half sister, Pauline Penrod in 1982.
Bill died at his home and is buried in Itasca Calvary Cemetery at Grand Rapids, Minnesota. (Plot C-C-13-1-5)
- Tribal Affiliation(s):
