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MEMORIAL ARTICLE
Published Assembly Sep '96
William Burbridge Yancey, Jr.
No. 16000 Class of 1946
Died 31 October 1995 at Andrews AFB, Maryland, aged 71 years.
Interment: Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia.
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Bill was born 13 August 1924 in Berwyn, Maryland.
His father, a regular Army officer (Infantry) was stationed at
Fort Meade at the time. Bill graduated from Fayetteville High
School in North Carolina, won a Presidential appointment and
joined the class of 1946 at West Point on 1 July 1943.
Bill recalled that the most important event in
his cadet life was meeting Phyllis Vander Fehr. Bill noted she
was the prettiest thing in the world. Classmate, Jim Carbine
recalled: "Phyllis worked in the Treasurer's Office in Washington
Hall. Those of us on the second floor front of the 19th Division
had many opportunities to observe her and after we got to know
her yell 'Hi' out the window as she walked home from work each
day. We thought we had a chance to date her and were disappointed
when she started to drag Bill Yancey. It was love at first sight
for both because he was the only one in her life after that."
Bill played tackle on the famous Army football team of that era.
He opted for flight training and pinned on the wings and bars
of a second lieutenant, Army Air Corps at graduation. Bill and
Phyllis were married at West Point on 5 June 1946.
Some years ago, Bill prepared a synopsis of his
life and wrote of his early assignments: "First assignment
was Williams Field, Arizona for P-51 training. Then assigned
to 20th Group (P-51s) at Shaw Field, Sumter, SC. Transferred
to Okinawa in 1948, flying P-80's. Rotated to the States in July
1950 to 334th Fighter Intercept Squadron at New Castle, Delaware.
In November, the unit, equipped with F-86 Sabre jets, moved by
aircraft carrier to Japan and ultimately to Korea to fight the
MIG's. [Bill was credited with 1 ½ air victories and won
the DFC] Returned to the States in July 1951 to Selfridge AFB,
Michigan. From Selfridge, we moved to the Air Force Academy temporarily
at Lowry AFB, Denver, Colorado.
One of Bill's best friends, LTG Arnold Braswell,
USAF, Rtd. (USMA '48), recalled Bill's contributions to the Air
Force Academy: "As the Air Officer Commanding of a cadet
squadron and later a group, Bill helped establish the high standards
of honor, esprit, commitment and discipline that became woven
into the fabric of the cadet wing. He guided the first classes
of cadets, as OIC of the Cadet Honor Committee, toward development
and acceptance of a strong honor code modeled after West Point.
His fellow officers and the cadets of that era developed the
highest regard for his leadership and great admiration for him
as a warm and caring human being."
Bill continued telling of his assignments: "In
1958, we moved to Europe where I was Operations Officer for the
32nd Fighter Squadron, flying F-100's and F-102's in Holland.
From Holland followed the Armed Forces Staff College, Langley
AFB, Virginia, Air War College and the Pentagon. In 1968, I was
named Vice Commander of the Fighter Weapons Wing at Nellis AFB,
Nevada and then moved to Myrtle Beach AFB, SC to become the 113th
Tactical Fighter Wing (TFW) Commander. Went to Vietnam in 1969
to command the 31st TFW at Tuy Hoa Air Base (F-100's). Returned
to the States in 1970 to Air Force Plans in the Pentagon, promoted
to Brigadier General in 1972 and assigned to the J-5 Directorate
of Joint Staff. Promoted to Major General and assigned to USECOM
in 1974. In 1976, I became Vice Commander, 16th Air Force, Torrejon
Air Base, Madrid, Spain. Retired in 1978."
Bill loved to tell of his retirement. At that time,
classmate Lew Allen was Chief of Staff, US Air Force and classmate
Bill Evans was CINCUSAFE. So, on the occasion of Bill's retirement,
Lew Allen and Bill Evans came to Spain to retire Bill Yancey,
then the three of them went to Ramstein, Germany where Lew retired
Bill Evans and all three flew back to the United States.
After retirement, Bill and Phyllis became active
in residential real estate. Bill also became a volunteer "enrolled
agent" of the IRS to assist elderly people and others with
their taxes, and was a lay eucharistic minister at St. Rita's
Catholic Church.
Arnold Braswell, wrote of the last phase of Bill's
life: "A good athlete, Bill enjoyed playing squash and tennis
until he was afflicted in 1991 with a painful and puzzling illness,
eventually diagnosed as rheumatoid arthritis. Though he suffered
greatly from this disease for more than four years, he retained
his famous sense of humor and his unquenchable spirit. Characteristically,
he consulted every medical reference he could find and, to the
dismay of his physicians, could debate with them about possible
new treatments. Ultimately, the disease was a factor in his death,
causing complications which prevented his successful recovery
from surgery. He died 31 October 1995 in the Malcolm Grow Medical
Center at Andrews AFB, Maryland. He is survived by his wife,
Phyllis; a son William III; two daughters, Mary Jo and Annette;
and a twin sister, Mary."
Air Force classmate, Bob Stewart wrote: "Bill's
tennis game pretty well reflected his tenacity and competitive
drive. As a dedicated dunker, I could yank him around the court.
I'd have him scrambling and lunging in all directions, but somehow
I'd end up on the short end of the score. He never quit."
Another Air Force classmate, LTG Kenneth L Tallman,
Retired, wrote: "Through the years of his Air Force career
and beyond in retirement, his outgoing personality, winning sense
of humor, strong integrity and sincere concern and compassion
for his fellow man were the hallmarks of his life. Even those
who knew Bill only slightly were quick to recognize his real
humanitarian kindness."
Finally, Arnold Braswell wrote: "He was one
of those rare persons we all admire and would like to emulate
- wise, compassionate, infinitely moral and totally without ego.
He had a great sense of humor, frequently sharing new jokes or
relating humorous anecdotes about himself. Perhaps his most admirable
quality was that he always cared more for others than for himself.
He enjoyed helping others and devoted much of his time to doing
so. Bill epitomized the committed, caring leader which the Academy
strives to develop. None of us who came to know and love this
exceptional human being will ever forget him and we mourn his
passing."
The Class of 1946 joins the family and friends
of Bill Yancey to state proudly; "Well Done, Bill; Be Thou
At Peace!"
'46 Memorial Article Project and his wife, Phyllis
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