William D. Cargill, Jr.

95

of San Antonio

Born to William D. Cargill and Vera Morton

Died 29 January 2014

Lt. Colonel William D. Cargill

Age: 95, Born Sept 29, 1918 in San Antonio, TX

Bill Cargill grew up in Brady, TX. He distinguished himself in life through his experiences and accomplishments in academic, professional and athletic endeavors. He attended the University of Texas at Austin withdrawing to join the Army Air Corps for WWII. He became a bombardier in B-17's receiving numerous Air Medals, the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Croix de Guerre. He flew 17 missions at a time when the average number of missions survived was 2.7. He was the only surviving officer of his original WWII squadron and the only surviving officer of the three crews to which he was assigned. Bill's greatest contribution to the Allied efforts were his targeting and raid planning of heavy water plants in Scandinavia and the high altitude bombing plan for D-Day.

It was in England that Bill Cargill met and married Dorothy Hardy, a physiotherapist at Guy's Hospital in London. After the war they returned to Texas where Bill completed his degree in accounting at the UT. Upon graduation, with twins, Helen and John, in tow they moved to North Cowden in West Texas where our father worked for a major oil company and also where they added George to the family. When the Korean War broke out, our father returned to what was now the Air Force and was assigned to England. The three children were presented to the Hardy side of the family. After England came assignments to Germany, New York, Tokyo, Los Angeles and Fort Worth. Most notable of the post-England assignments was Tokyo. Bill encouraged the family academically and athletically. Dorothy spent four years at Naganuma learning to read and write Japanese. All of the family played Judo and learned some Aikido. Bill was recognized as a First Degree Black Belt (Sho-dan) at Kodokan, Headquarters of the International Judo Federation, after he was forty years of age. The whole family was deeply immersed in Japanese culture.

In his retirement at the Air Force Village II, Bill turned his athletic attention to tennis and cycling. He won numerous medals in tennis Men's Singles and Men's Doubles in the Texas Senior Games. As life, tennis and age took a toll on his knees, Bill transitioned to cycling and was known throughout the Village for his enthusiastic support of the Village cyclists and their weekly rides. He competed in national cycling events from 5, 10 and 20 kilometer time trials to the 40 kilometer road race. His biggest win was at the National Senior Olympics where he took the Silver Medal and was the top placing American in the 40K road age Men 8-85 years. One trait stood out: after being the only one left of his squadron and crews from WWII, Bill sought the most that life had to offer. He had escaped death many times over during the war and a bout with colon cancer. His investments were varied, some risky and he ultimately enjoyed investing in the stock market. If you played tennis with Bill, you knew that even if he lost a return because of an unforced error, he fought the next point as if nothing had happened. He loved to compete - at anything. Cycling with Bill, you knew he would stomp the pedals on a hill until there was no breath left. Bill's death is nothing to mourn (he died peacefully in his sleep) but his extraordinary life is a life to celebrate.

Quoting from Anthony Hardy, his wife's cousin: "It is hard to contemplate that even fine old warriors must pass away. Your father will always remain in my memory as a dashing officer - as he was when I first met him in the late 1940's at the time of his wedding to your mother in London; as a capable financial administrator - as I later encountered him in Tokyo and in Manila in the 1960's; as a man of hour and of humour, highly respected by all who had the good fortune of crossing his path throughout his long life, which much surely be celebrated at this time."

Preceded in death by his wife, Dorothy and survived by his children Helen Bourque, Major USMC Ret. John Cargill and Colonel USAF Ret. George Cargill, and his grandchildren, Kevin, Jolene, Christian, Rachel, Geoffrey, Sarah and Brian.

Memorial Service will be held at Air Force Village II on Monday, 10 February 2014 at 10:00 a.m.

Internment will in Fort Sam Houston National Cemetary at 2:00 p.m.