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Email: mehardw@bellsouth.net

William "Bill" was born and raised in Western Pennsylvania . He enlisted in the U.S. Navy after graduating from Ellwood City ’s Lincoln High School in 1951. He did his recruit training at the Navy’s Great Lakes Training Center . Upon "boot camp" he was assigned to Minemen "A" school in Yorktown , Virginia .
Upon completion of Minemen school Bill was transferred to the Naval Minecraft Base at Charleston , South Carolina . However soon thereafter he was transferred to the Naval Ordnance Facility, Port Lyautey, French Morocco, assigned to maintaining the mine stockpile.
In 1954 Bill was again transferred to Fleet Aircraft Squadron Three, Norfolk, Virginia and assigned to the Mine and Torpedo shop. Bill was married to Emma Jane Westlund in 1955 and soon after was transferred back to NOF Port Lyautey, Morocco for another tour of mine maintenance. After the tour in Morocco , Bill and Emma returned to the Naval Air Station, Norfolk where he obtained the rating of Chief Petty Officer in 1960.. Thereafter he applied to the Navy’s Limited Duty Officer program and was commissioned an Ensign in 1962.
After completion of the Officer Indoctrination course at OCS, Newport , RI , he was transferred to the Naval Ordnance Facility, Yokosuka , Japan and assumed the duties as Operations Officer involved in ammunition loading and unloading cargo ships. In 1965 he was transferred to the Naval Weapons Station, Yorktown , VA and assigned as the Waterfront Operations Officer again involved in loading ammunition aboard naval ships and barges. In 1967 Bill was transferred to the USS Shenandoah AD-26 stationed in Norfolk , Va. He was assigned as the Weapons Logistics Officer responsible for the Gunnery and Torpedo divisions.
In 1969 Bill and family moved again this time to the Naval Ammunition Depot, Oahu , HI . He was assigned as Mines Officer at the West Loch facility. Enjoying the sunny climate until 1972 when he moved again to the East coast and the Mobile Mine Assembly Group, Charleston , SC. .
Upon arrival for duty he was sent off to Naval Air Station , Sigonelli , Sicily as OIC Mobile Mine Assembly Unit Five. Upon his return to Charleston he assumed the duties as Executive Officer of the MOMAG and subsequently as Chief Staff Officer to Commander MOMAG.
Bill retired in 1976 after 25 years of continuous service and resides in Hanahan , SC. After his retirement, Bill was co-owner of Knight Press, taught machine tool courses at Trident Technical College, North Charleston, was purchasing agent for three years at Braswell Shipyards, and is now self-employed in the foundry and machine tool trade. Bill has volunteered at the Naval Health Clinic Pharmacy for the past 16 years.