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<i>William Edward ‘Billy’ Hingston </i><font size="2">was born in Biddeford, ME, Nov 26, 1940, to Doris and William Hingston. The family grew to seven children—Billy, the oldest, followed by brothers Tom (Pat) and Jeffery and sisters Marilyn, Flory, Judy, and Holly. Billy spent his early years in Maine, where Tom vividly recalls him developing strong interests that were to shape his later life. "When Billy was seven years old we were both looking up at the sky one evening when a small plane flew overhead, and Billy remarked, ‘that’s what I want to be—a pilot.’" Later, finding a pair of his mother’s old ice skates, Billy also fell in love with ice skating which would lead to a lifelong dedication to the sport of ice hockey. </font></p>
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<font size="2">The Hingston family moved from Maine to Lynn, MA, later settling in Braintree, south of Boston. Billy spent his formative years there as an active young man committed to success at whatever he was doing. He developed and managed a large paper route and walked across town daily to caddy and play golf at the local country club. At the age of 12 he got a job at the local ice rink where he did so well he was trusted to close the rink at night. During these school years Billy was often characterized by family, friends, and sports opponents as focused and determined. He always had a plan. </font></p>
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<font size="2">Though also a young man of keen intellect and an excellent student, Billy steadily became a hockey standout well before his high school years. While attending Archbishop Williams High School in Braintree, he became one of the team’s strongest players and a standout in the school leagues in that area. A USMA classmate from a rival high school recalls that Billy Hingston—now "Wild Bill" by reputation—"was a formidable opponent: aggressive and tough." By this time his hockey exploits had also caught the eye of several collegiate coaches. Bill attended Boston College for part of the 1958-59 school year but, with his strong student-athlete credentials, had been encouraged by Bill Carpenter, Army</font><font face="AGaramond" size="2"><font face="AGaramond" size="2">’</font></font><font size="2">s famed "Lonesome End," to apply for the United States Military Academy. He did apply and was admitted as a Qualified Alternate entering West Point in July 1959 as a member of the Class of 1963. As a cadet, Bill was a strong student—particularly skilled in math and sciences—and continued his hockey success by becoming a stalwart for three years on the Army Hockey Team. He earned varsity A Squad letters for three seasons, scoring an outstanding 78 points as a forward, including 34 goals and 44 assists. </font></p>
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<font size="2">Throughout his formative and cadet years, Bill remained dedicated to his family—visiting them whenever he could and accompanying them to social or sports events, helping with homework, or just being a great older brother. His brother Tom and sister Marilyn recall Billy being a very strong role model for them during these earlier years, and his memory remains a guiding influence on their lives to this day. </font></p>
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<font size="2">In spring 1961, Bill met Nancy Augustine outside Grant Hall during her first visit to West Point. Over the next two years they had an exciting, fun-filled romance each becoming the love of the other’s life. Bill graduated Jun 5, 1963, and he and Nancy were married the following day, Jun 6, 1963. After graduation, the wedding, and a Cape Cod honeymoon, they were off to an Army career together. </font></p>
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<font size="2">Nancy and Bill, now Lieutenant Hingston, attended the Field Artillery Officers Basic Course at Fort Sill, OK, and the Airborne Officers Course at Fort Campbell late that year. While at Fort Campbell, they were blessed by the arrival of their first child, William. They remained at Fort Campbell until May 1965 when, true to his plan, Bill entered flight school at the U.S. Army Aviation Center and School, Fort Rucker, AL. Here their second child, Kim, also joined the growing family. After graduating from flight school, Bill was assigned to the 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile), then located at An Khe, in the Central Highlands, Republic of Vietnam. In August 1966, he reported for duty with A Battery, 2d Battalion, 20th Artillery Regiment, where he flew helicopter aerial rocket artillery missions supporting infantry and other units of the Division. </font></p>
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<font size="2">On Jan 24, 1967, after having been selected for increased responsibility as a Section Leader of his ARA helicopter unit, Bill was flying support for an infantry insertion in Binh Dinh Province, northern II Corps, RVN. As the infantry unit was landing there was immediate contact with a North Vietnamese (NVA) enemy force causing the U.S. ground commander to request fire support. Billy, now Captain Hingston, did not hesitate to roll in and fire rockets in support of the U.S. ground forces. Bill’s gunship was hit by NVA fire as they were completing their run causing the aircraft to crash into the jungle. Bill and two other crewmen were killed in the impact of the helicopter. Reflecting his sustained, skillful, and valiant efforts in support of U.S. infantry troops, Captain Hingston was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, 10 Air Medals, the Purple Heart, and Bronze Star for his courageous and professional support of U.S. infantry soldiers in combat. </font></p>
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<font size="2">Bill Hingston remains a powerful figure for all who met, worked, and lived with him: his loving wife Nancy, who cannot imagine her life without having had Bill in it; his children, William and Kim; his parents, brothers, and sisters; and his many teammates, classmates, and colleagues. We painfully regret his all too early departure from us but we each cherish that we knew, respected, and loved him while he was with us.</font></p>
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<font size="2"><i>— Family & Classmate</i></font></p>