William Jule Gilkey, “Bill,” is a man who has devoted his life to serving others through his military service, and now by serving veterans in need, his church, and his family.
Bill was born February 16th, 1948, in Chardon, Ohio. His parents were John and Dorothy Gilkey, his sister was Diane Gilkey (Daugherty). Bill married Delores Rickman and they had three children, Michael, Laura and Stephen.
Bill enlisted in the U.S. Army in March of 1967 and graduated from flight school in April of 1968. Bill arrived in Vietnam on May 4, 1968. In Vietnam he piloted Huey helicopters carrying troops in and out of combat and rescuing troops who needed medical evacuation, often while receiving fire. He flew regularly as the lead pilot of the 128th Assault Helicopter Company’s flights of 10 choppers in III Corps. Many pilots stopped flying two weeks before leaving for home, but Bill flew up to and including the morning he was scheduled to leave.
Love for his fellow brothers in combat elicited his heroic actions. Bill was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross along with the Air Medal with V device for valor, the 1st through 41st Air Medal Oak Leaf Clusters (one for each additional Air Medal), and a gambit of medals for Meritorious Service.
After his military service, Bill moved his young family from Maryland to Louisiana where he graduated from the University of Southeastern Louisiana and continued his flying career with Mobile Oil and other companies operating in the Gulf of Mexico. He also flew as a Deputy Sheriff for the Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office. During his 39-year civilian career flying a multitude of different helicopters, Bill accumulated over 27,000 hours flying day and night over the Gulf of Mexico. As a talented drummer, Bill played many gigs in and around Baton Rouge.
Bill has retired to Maryville, Tennessee. He is one of the ten founders of AMVETS Post 22 of Blount County which is devoted to addressing the issue of the 22 veterans who commit suicide each month. He joined the Knoxville, TN DFC Chapter. Bill enjoys riding his Harley with his partner Yvonne exploring beautiful Tennessee. Being with family and all his grandchildren brings him great joy.
We thank William Jule Gilkey for his flight service to our country and his service to all those he has helped along his way.