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<p><em>William Meehan</em> was born September 23, 1962 in Honolulu, HI. His very proud parents were Robert Sr. and Mary, and his proud siblings—Kathleen, Deborah, Theresa, Susan, Mary, Barbara, and Robert Jr.—were all excited to have another baby boy in the family. Bill’s father served in the Army, so Bill was able to experience lots of different places with his family before settling in Elgin, OK.</p>
<p>Bill was a fun and mischievous toddler. His sister Kathy remembers his first haircut, which he was not at all excited about. She had to bribe him with a gumball from a machine, which turned out to be a very messy black one! He sat in that chair with some tears and black juices running down his face; however, he did walk out with a brand-new haircut! Even later as a cadet, Bill kept himself well groomed and scoffed at others who got the standard, very short “high and tight.”</p>
<p>When they were young, his father taught Bill and his brother how to box. Some of his sisters were not too happy about it; but, nonetheless, it was a skill that served him well. After boxing came a new sport—judo. Both brothers were in the same class and eventually had to fight with each other. As a high school student, Bill loved to play sports, particularly baseball and football. The skills, fitness and essential discipline learned in these sports helped Bill not only as a cadet but also throughout his military career.</p>
<p>Bill graduated Elgin High School with honors. Bill’s acceptance into West Point in 1982 brought much pride to his entire family, most especially to his parents. </p>
<p>Many West Point classmates recall Bill as mostly quiet, contemplative and extremely thoughtful, but usually quick with a smile. Classmate Dave Fulton recounted he “can’t picture Bill without seeing his smile.”</p>
<p>Bill’s plebe Company H-2 classmate Balvin McKnight recalls Bill as “steady and reliable as they come...Bill always took care of his personal responsibilities and was never too busy to help those of us that needed it. That help came in various forms from academics to providing much needed moments of levity over a pitcher of beer at Ike Hall. Even as a plebe, Bill’s help also extended to talking someone (might have been me) out of putting hands on an upperclassman...we all knew we could count on him.” </p>
<p>Bill applied lessons he had learned from his father to make cadet life better for himself and his classmates. He remained an exceptional runner. During first semester plebe year, Bill helped Mark Levesque fix “some of the worst fudge bar shoes in the company...Bill came over and spent a lot of his own time showing me how to shine shoes, and it worked” for a brutal upcoming inspection. Dale Fakkema, his second semester plebe year roommate in old Pershing Barracks, remembered that Bill figured out how to convert a small niche below that window to make a “mini fridge” to store drinks in the winter, until it was found during an inspection (right about the time the weather stopped cooperating anyway).</p>
<p>One place where Bill was never quiet was in the boxing ring: He was one of the mainstays for three years on the H-4 company team. Fellow H-4 boxer Vinny O’Neill (Class of 1985) said: “Billy represented a very tough fighter who won most of his bouts and seemed very comfortable under the stress of climbing in the ring. During our many practices, he set the example but also kept it fun.” H-4 classmate Scott Pierce recalled that Bill may have held the “West Point all-time record for combined cigarettes smoked pre- and post-boxing match, combined with snappy left-jabs landed for the mighty H-4 boxing team as we brought thunder down on opponents from companies G-4, I-4 and others.”</p>
<p>Bill’s graduation from West Point was a very special occasion for both of his parents and the whole family. His father was privileged to receive Bill’s first salute on commissioning. </p>
<p>Bill lived the West Point motto: “Duty, Honor, Country.” He also did not lie, cheat, steal, or tolerate anyone who did. He was charismatic and a natural leader who always kept himself physically fit and always maxed PT tests. </p>
<p>After completing the Infantry Officer Basic Course, Bill was assigned to 8th Infantry Division in Germany but deployed for the first Gulf War in 1990. He was the unit S-3 when they got ready to go downrange to “meet” the Iraqi Republican Guard. His sister Deborah was in Dhahran Air Base rigging airdrop supplies at the time. They had a nice brother-sister conversation via telephone in a combat zone.</p>
<p>In 1991, not very long after his father passed away, Bill gave up his military career to come back to Elgin and help his mother. He worked the family business and met the love of his life, Jaena. Jaena and Bill were married in August 2008. </p>
<p>Jaena once said she thought the phrase “an officer and a gentleman” was just that, “a catchy phrase.” She later told Bill that she was wrong; Bill was exactly that in every sense. His family also remembers Bill as a very generous person. </p>
<p>Jaena passed away in October 2015, and Bill passed away in July 2020 after a battle with cancer.</p>
<p>Be Thou at Peace, Brother. We recall not only your service but also your commitment to classmates, family and friends. </p>
<p><em>— His Family and ’86 Classmates—CNQ (“Courage Never Quits”)</em></p>
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