|
Remembrances:
Class Memorial Pages\A-1 Bill Yost.pdf
Assembly/Taps Memorial Article: 
WILLIAM D. YOST III 1961
Cullum No. 23663-1961 | December
7, 1996 | Died in Morganville,
NJ
Interred
in West Point Cemetery, NY
William Daniel Yost III was born in Danville, PA on March 19, 1939. He was the
first of four children of William Yost Jr. and Martha Yost (nee Gass). When
he reached the ninth grade, his athletic career began that fall with
football. He proved to be an astute student of the game and quite a
perfectionist as to technique, drills, and exercises. Football was followed
by varsity basketball and varsity track, for which he hurled the shot and
discus. By his senior year, he was named All-State tackle from the Paulsboro
High School in New Jersey. His physical size and prowess on the field,
together with good academic performance, had attracted the attention of many
Division-1A football coaches throughout the region. He received many
football scholarships offers but was most touched when Colonel Red Blake
from West Point visited his home and spoke to him and his parents. The
colonel persuaded him to accept a “scholarship” to our Rockbound Highland
Home.
Classmates who saw Bill during Beast Barracks double timing in gym shorts
remarked that they had never seen such a strongly built fellow. His neck
girth marked him unmistakably as a serious football player. He was
disappointed the rules did not permit him to play “A” Squad plebe year; he
did so starting yearling year.
After every football season, Bill would have a surgical procedure done on
one or the other of his knees. Fluid was removed, or some more serious
procedure was performed. He loved football and viewed knee problems as a
small price to pay. Frank Gibson, classmate and team co-captain for the 1960
fall season, remembers Bill as a guy who always came to practice and to
games ready to give full effort regardless of the pain. Team co-captain Al
Vanderbush said he echoed Frank Gibson’s comments and added that Bill
inspired us all. Beat Navy! Classmate Bruce Seidel remembers Bill as
friendly but direct, sort of the way he saw him play football.
Upon graduation, Bill went into the Signal Corps, serving at the Army
Electronics Proving Ground, Fort Huachuca, AZ. He then served in Turkey for
his first overseas tour with the U.S. Logistics Group, (TUSLOG). A classmate
remembers Bill bringing him a meerschaum pipe purchased while stationed in
Turkey. Then Bill went back to Fort Monmouth, NJ for the Signal Corps
Officer Advanced Course. He served in Vietnam as commander of the 347th
Signal Company, 29th Signal Group. Bill had a second tour in Turkey, also
with TUSLOG. Bill was awarded the Bronze Star Medal, the Army Commendation
Medal and the Air Medal.
He left the Army in September 1976 at Fort Monmouth. He stayed there in the
U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command (CECOM), leading several
significant programs. There he met his wife, Linda, who was also a CECOM
employee at Fort Monmouth. They were married in 1976. Bill was a pioneer in
technology development. He passed a valuable legacy to a generation of CECOM
engineers, emphasizing usability by the Army’s soldiers.
A classmate wrote of Bill in the Class of 1961 yearbook: “When Big Bill came
to West Point, he was a little disappointed plebe year not to be allowed to
play A-Squad football. Between football and academics, he was always busy,
but not too busy for reading.”
Bill was a hospital patient in 1996 and discharged himself so he could
attend the 35th reunion of his class and interact with the classmates he so
much admired. He cherished these relationships and wanted so much to reunite
with his classmates and vigorously interact with them. He was determined to
accomplish that. In that process Bill did not share the fact that he was
hospitalized with his classmates. His hospitalization was only learned about
when he passed away several months after the 35th reunion.
— Rod
Cameron, Paul Palmer and Bill Williamson, classmates
|
