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“When through one man a little more love and goodness, and truth comes into the world, then that man’s life has had meaning.”</div>
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<em>Alfred Delp</em></div>
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Bill was born in Mexico City, Mexico, on 19 April 1947, the son of Mr. and Mrs. William H. Pahissa, and the oldest of five children. When he was two years old the family returned to Park Ridge, Illinois. He and his three sisters and younger brother were raised there. Bill attended Merrill School and Mary, Seat of Wisdom grammar school in Park Ridge. In his first year of high school, the family moved to Tucson, Arizona, and Bill attended Salpointe High School, where he was on the football and basketball teams, a member of the Honor Society, President of the Junior class, and a very articulate and active member of the Debate Society. In his senior year he was elected Chairman of the National Democratic Convention (a school takeoff of the National elections), and as Chairman appeared on local TV in enthusiastic debate to urge acceptance of his candidate.</div>
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"I remember talking privately with Bill on many occasions. He was always so friendly, humble and honest. If he was struggling with something in his mind, he had the sincerity and determination to bring it to the surface and discuss it.</div>
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"I had Bill in a senior course. It was a good class, or at least I thought so at the time! Bill would question and keep me on my toes. I liked his spirit. One morning I was giving one of my ‘better’ lectures. But honestly; it must have been bad, because Bill fell asleep on me. I didn’t tolerate sleeping in my classes, but being in an exceptionally good mood, I decided to ignore him. After the class ended, another class came in and we continued; halfway through the class, our friend Bill woke up. The look on his face is something I shall never forget. The class broke into laughter and Bill gave everyone that big, broad smile, broken tooth and all! This is how I remember Bill best, smiling, smart, witty, humble and basically a great Christian. The Salpointe community is made up of better people today because we knew and respected and shared your son."</div>
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<em>...Bill’s Teacher</em></div>
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Bill was appointed to West Point by Congressman Morris Udall, and he entered in July 1965. At West Point he entered into the activities and academics with a vengeance. He also wore out a great deal of shoe leather on the area! But you couldn't get him down. He was always able to see everyone’s point of view and he respected it, though he was his own man all the way down the line. Bill was active in the Rugby Club, the Student Conference on United States Affairs, the Catholic Choir, Boxing, and was a Sunday School instructor. In fact, it was through his being at the Sunday</div>
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School that we were fortunate enough to meet him, as one of my sons was in his class. It was during cow year that Bill also met the girl who was later to become his fiancee.</div>
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Men are distinguished as much by the forms their memories take as by their characters. Bill excelled as a friend, he was as dynamic and intense in friendships as he was at any work, sport or debate that he was immersed in. Bill’s capacity for true and enduring friendship is evidenced by the following words of his classmates:</div>
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“The most outstanding thing about Bill was his complete selflessness. If a friend needed help, Bill would completely forget his own problems, goals and personal desires. He lived to solve the problem and would make any sacrifice to eliminate it. He was the finest friend I’ve ever had. He was fiercely independent and one of a kind. When they made him, they threw away the mold. I’d never met anyone like him before, and I've long since given up on finding someone else like Bill.”</div>
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“Bill was a warm person with a zest for life. He was the kind of person who would give you his last penny and not count the cost. He would always take time to listen to a problem and give encouragement. His temperament had a bright wholesome quality to it. He liked people, and once made, his loyalties were deep and lasting. That’s how I remember Bill best.”</div>
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“I first met Bill upon the friendly fields of athletic competition during our Second Class year. I was always impressed by his good sportsmanship both on and off the field. After graduation, Bill and I rejoined each other at Fort Benning. For the next five months he and I attended Airborne School, Ranger School, and the Infantry Basic course together. During this time I grew to know and admire Bill and his easygoing manner. He was a close friend, a good officer and a fine man. Bill was an idealist with something to offer to all who knew him. I believe he died searching for an ideal in which he firmly believed, and one to which he had firmly dedicated himself. Bill’s death was not in vain, but a final sacrifice for those principles in which he so strongly believed."</div>
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"Bill will still be as much a factor of growth in the people’s lives who loved him— it was his way to touch people with his life and he died the same way—still reaching out, still loving, still giving totally."</div>
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For Bill, the successful completion of school at Fort Bragg was a fulfillment of a goal that he had set for himself at West Point. He intensely wanted an Airborne Infantry assignment. The pride that he felt in being a part of the Airborne was admirable. He looked forward to going to Vietnam: even had himself moved up two months so he could go in June instead of August, arriving there on 18 June at Pint Bai, assigned to the 101st Airborne. He went to "A" Company, 2d Battalion 506 Infantry, at Fire Base O’Reilly, near the Ashau Valley. Bill joined the company on Fire Base O’Reilly and left shortly afterward for the Ripcord area. For the ten days the company worked near Ripcord, the enemy contact was heavy. On 20 July, Bill's platoon was lead platoon for the company, deep into enemy held territory. They found a North Vietnam Army telephone wire and Bill jury-rigged a field expedient wire tap. The information Bill’s people garnered from this was the key factor in the division commander’s decision to evacuate Ripcord. Had they not tapped, more American lives would have been lost.</div>
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By 22 July, the major portion of an NVA regiment had nearly surrounded Ripcord. Enemy contact was again initiated in an effort to break out and this contact lasted six hours. During this time Bill was killed instantly while attempting to help a wounded man to safety. He was 23 years old. His Company Commander wrote:</div>
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"Bill was a fine man and one of the most outstanding officers I have ever met. It is difficult, in combat, not to grow close to those men who fight with you. Bill was a friend and there is no other way of telling you the things he did which lease his name permanently enscribed on our hearts and minds. Bill is remembered with pride in this unit and in the 1st Platoon his memory invokes not only pride but a deeper feeling as well.”</div>
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A special award ceremony in honor of Bill was held on 30 January 1971 at Fort Huachuca, Arizona. General W. B. Latta presented his parents with Bill’s medals. These included the Bronze Star with First Oak Leaf Cluster with “V" Device, for valor, and the Purple Heart. Other awards were the Bronze Star for Meritorious Service, Combat Infantryman Badge, Parachutist Badge, Vietnam Service and Campaign Medals, National Order of Vietnam, Fifth Class, and the Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Palm.</div>
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Bill’s quote for the <em>HOWITZER</em> was taken from Erich Maria Remarque’s book, "All Quiet on the Western Front,’’ about another war at another time, in another country, but the feelings and emotions of young men at war are universal and for all time. “What use is it to him now that he was such a good mathematician at school?” proved to be a prophetic quote. Does it matter that Bill was the first in his class to be killed in combat, how much he wanted Airborne Infantry, how proud he was to be in the 101st? To Bill it mattered. He felt the same feelings as one of his classmates who wrote: "You can be proud of the fact that in an era of widespread apathy and a time of loud voices unsupported by personal sacrifice, your son was willing to give everything for his beliefs and his country. In a time of trial for the military when dedicated officers are invaluable, your loss will be a great loss for the class of '69, and the Army in general. Your son has begun a path of honor for our class which I hope the rest of us can maintain.”</div>
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Again, a prophetic quote, for many in the class of '69 have already trod that path.</div>
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The class motto, “The Best of the Line,” has deep meaning for those of us who have loved one of the Best of the Line dearly and who can cry with so many who have repeated that eternal quotation, “This is My beloved Son in Whom I am well pleased."</div>
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<em>—Bill's family and his friends</em></div>
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