Raptor_526th Memorial Page

Raptor_526th (BILL) 5-16-80 to 4-3-01 Well I just wanted to say a couple words and tell you a little more about him. This is his dad by the way. No father should ever have to watch there child die before them. It is one of the worst things I can think of to ever have happen. Bill was my son and he loved everyone very much. His goals in life were simple. 1. Tell people about God and don't hold back 2. Have fun He lived by there two rules almost everyday. A devoted Christian and friend of our church, I'm sure just by looking at the site he made that he was trying to reach out to the squadron. My family and I are hurt greatly but at the same time we know that he is in a better place. A place where there is no night, no day, no pain, and no sorrow. I'm sure he is also with his stepbrother, (brother to him) that went way before his time. Without a doubt it was the hardest thing for me to watch. I actually saw him take his last breath and then it was over. I remember in vivid detail when one of our friends called up telling me that my son was involved in a serouse car accedent. He was a police officer and when I got to the scene of the accident it looked like noone could ever survive that crash. Bill fought for the longest time after the crash and there was a time when the doctors themselves had said it was all over. God proved them wrong and gave Bill the strength to fight. I myself still haven't figured out why he had to pull through and endure so much before he was taken but I know God must have needed him more then any of us. I know that if he was still here he would be telling everyone to keep going on and to always remember him not for who he was but rather for the life that he lived. I wish that there was more that I could say to ease the pain that you guys feel along with my family. I wish that when I woke up thenext day that this had all been a nightmare. The realilty still hasn't set in and it probably won't until that body is placed in it's final resting place. Spit, I know that you probably hurt the most of all because I know that you and him shared the same feeling for things and were both Christians. I also know that for a while you were helping him get back into the flying and CFS2 stuff again. Just remember that you WILL see him someday. Live your life for God and don't let anyone take the love and maturity from you. The things that you have demonstrated to me and to my son. Sparow, I really apreciate the things that you said about my son and I just pray that somehow or other that he made an impact on your squadron. That is all he ever wanted. Raptor_526th has left to go on to a better place that I can only dream of and wait for. He leaves behind: Mother Father Sister Girlfriend: (that was his nurse and she is extremely heart broken so those that pray, pray for her) Friends: John also known as Spit and Sparow (sorry don't remember your real name) A chruch and it's members who all loved him A squadron that I have been able to watch and observe as they came together and shared in our pain. The VUSN 526th squadron I know that he loved this squad with all his heart. I often found him up at all hours of the night flying and talking to you online. You guys have something special, and maybe learned some things from my son. God bless and thanks to all At the midnight cry my son went home Sincerely Chris, and family and friends Micheal W Smith "Friends are Friends forever"