William Cool: Decorated veteran, husband, father and patriot

William Cool offers this advice to youth: “Many men and women have sacrificed their lives protecting this great country. The flag is a symbol of this great country. Love and respect it, for it will love and respect you back.”

by Patrice Johnson

Vietnam War veteran William (Bill) Cool, now 73 years old, served five tours of duty with the Navy in Vietnam, many of which were spent on the flight deck of an aircraft carrier.

While on the USS Enterprise CVAN 65, Cool landed and launched aircraft. “I was an aviation boatswain mate 2^nd class E5,” he explained. What Cool didn’t say, but what any fighter pilot who has landed a plane on a moving blip of a sea vessel will tell you, is that pilots trust their lives to these landing crews.

This son of Darryl and Genevieve grew up in Fowlerville and the Gregory area. He graduated Fowlerville, class of 1963, and Oct. 9, 1964 enlisted in the Navy. He served 4 years, 18 months and 7 days, and of that time 4 years, 4 months and 21 days were in foreign and sea service.

Cool has a long list of honors to his name: Naval Unit Commendation Ribbon; Vietnam Campaign Medal; Vietnam Service Medals: one Silver Star and one Bronze Star; National Defense Medal; Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal; Tet Offensive Medal; and the US Navy Shellback Medal.

“I have the memory of the close camaraderie we all had together,” he said. “We were all like brothers, always having each others’ backs.”

Any person serving in the military, he said, is a true patriot deserving of love and respect.

The most memorable part of your service, Cool said, involved coming home after his years in Vietnam.

Aug. 5, 1989, he married Kathleen Devine. Together, they raised four children: Deborah, Jeffery, Teresa and Torrey.

After returning home, Cool worked 36 years as a commercial bricklayer. Today, the Cool’s live in an 1832-built Farmhouse on Roberts Road. Inside, rough-hewn beams stand testament to the belief that this was the second home built in Iosco Township.

Advice to the youth of our generation? “You live in the greatest country in the world. Many men and women have sacrificed their lives protecting this great country. The flag is a symbol of this great country. Love and respect it, for it will love and respect you back. God bless America. Be all you can be.”