WILLIAM R. HATFIELD, LT, USN

William Hatfield '53

Date of birth: July 15, 1930

Date of death: May 9, 1958

Age: 27

Lucky Bag

From the 1953 Lucky Bag:

WILLIAM ROBERT HATFIELD

Montgomery, Alabama

Bill was one of those Southerners who knew deep down inside that the South would rise again. He brought with him, from his native city, Montgomery, Alabama, a ready wit, just the hint of a drawl, and, much to the horror of his 'wives,' a taste for hillbilly music. Although he had no great love for academics, a lot of work and determination saw him through the perils of Dago and Skinny. His major ambition was to climb into a Navy plane, be catapulted from a carrier, and seek his fortune in the wild blue yonder. He will always be remembered as the man with the delighted laugh that rang through Bancroft, a signal to the troops that there was fun afoot.

WILLIAM ROBERT HATFIELD

Montgomery, Alabama

Bill was one of those Southerners who knew deep down inside that the South would rise again. He brought with him, from his native city, Montgomery, Alabama, a ready wit, just the hint of a drawl, and, much to the horror of his 'wives,' a taste for hillbilly music. Although he had no great love for academics, a lot of work and determination saw him through the perils of Dago and Skinny. His major ambition was to climb into a Navy plane, be catapulted from a carrier, and seek his fortune in the wild blue yonder. He will always be remembered as the man with the delighted laugh that rang through Bancroft, a signal to the troops that there was fun afoot.

Loss

William was lost when his AD-5 Skyraider hit power lines and crashed into San Francisco Bay on May 9, 1959. The other crewman was also killed.

Other Information

From researcher Kathy Franz:

William graduated from Lanier High School in 1948. F. F. A. Club, Secretary; Ushers’ Club, Secretary; Rifle Team; Alternate Section Representative; Red Cross Representative; Friendly, likable, nice, studious. In the fall of his senior year, William won second place in the Dairy Cattle Judging Contest at the State Fair in Birmingham and then attended the National Dairy Cattle Show in Columbus, Ohio.
At Marion Institute in 1949, he was in “A” Co. M.I. ’48, ’49; Rifle Team.
After graduating from the Naval Academy, he served on the USS Boxer in the Far East. He married Ellen Clare Sharits on April 13, 1954, at the First Methodist Church in Montgomery. She attended the same high school as William and graduated in 1950. They then resided in Pensacola where he was enrolled in the Naval Flight Training School. Their daughter Leslie Susan was born November 13, 1956, at Maxwell Air Force Base.
He was also survived by three brothers: Cedrick and Drake, both of Montgomery, and Carey, Korea.

William is buried in Alabama.