THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, June 24, 1995 TAG: 9506240293
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B4 EDITION: FINAL
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Medium: 79 lines
Captain William Andrew Rockwell, USN (Ret.), 63, after a valiant fight with cancer, died peacefully in his home in Virginia Beach on June 22, surrounded by his loving family.
A native of Chicago, Ill., Captain Rockwell enlisted in the Naval Air Reserve in January 1951. In May of 1954, after attaining the rate of Aviation Machinist Mate 3rd Class, Captain Rockwell entered flight training under the Naval Aviation Cadet Program (NAVCAD) at Pensacola, Fla. Upon completion of flight training in November 1955, he was commissioned an Ensign and designated a Naval Aviator.
Captain Rockwell's duty assignments have been: VP-721, Naval Air Station Glenview, Ill.; VR-21, Naval Air Station Barber's Point, Hawaii; General Line School, Monterey, Calif.; VT-6, Naval Auxiliary Air Station, Whiting Field, Milton, Fla.; HT-8, Naval Auxiliary Air Station, Ellyson, Pensacola, Fla. (designated a helicopter pilot in 1962); HS-7, Naval Air Station, Norfolk, Va.; Military Assistance Advisory Group, Tokyo, Japan; HC-1, Naval Auxiliary Air Station, Ream Field, Imperial Beach, Calif.; HA(L)-3, Republic of Vietnam; Naval Air Test Center, Flight Test Division, Naval Air Station, Patuxent River, Md.; Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, Calif.; Officer in Charge, Naval Air Maintenance Training Detachment (NAMTRADETS), Naval Air Station, Imperial Beach, Calif.; Executive Officer and Commanding Officer, HC-3, Naval Air Station, North Island, Coronado, Calif.; Naval War College, Newport, R.I.; Executive Officer USS Guam (LPH-9), Naval Station, Norfolk, Va.; Commander, Helicopter Sea Control Wing ONE, Naval Air Station, Norfolk, Va.; Office of the Chief of Naval Operations (Air Warfare), Washington, D.C.; Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Manpower, Reserve Affairs and Logistics), Washington, D.C.; Commanding Officer, Naval Air Station, Norfolk, Va.; United States Naval Attache to France.
Captain Rockwell has been awarded the Legion of Merit with Gold Star in lieu of Second Award, the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Bronze Star with Combat ``V,'' the Meritorious Service Medal, 18 Air Medals, the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Silver Star (Division Level), and the Ordre National Du Merite from the French Navy. He was the Officer in Charge of the first helicopter attack unit formed in the U.S. Navy (HC-1 DET 29). His detachment was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation for operations with the River Patrol Force in the Mekong Delta, RVN. In 1968, he was the Navy's recipient of the KOSSLER award presented by the American Helicopter Society for his development of helicopter attack tactics and innovative use of the helicopter in Southeast Asia.
After 36 years of upholding the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service and selfless dedication to his country, Captain Rockwell retired in January 1987.
He and his wife, Mary Lou, have been living in Virginia Beach since retirement. He was a Realtor with Long and Foster and an active member of the Church of the Ascension, where he helped with the Homeless Shelter program for many years. He was a member of the Council of Civic Organizations in Virginia Beach, a lifetime member of Game Wardens of Vietnam Association, a member of The Retired Officers Association, the Naval Helicopter Association, and was the current treasurer of Alliance Francaise, Chaptre de Grasse.
Captain Rockwell is survived by his wife, Mary Louise Rockwell; four sons, William Andrew Jr., and Steven Joseph of Richmond, Va., Thomas Baker of Virginia Beach and David Patrick and wife, Elizabeth of Toulon, Ill.; six grandchildren, Samantha, Emily, Matthew, Megan, Sarah and Lauren; two brothers, John B. of Chicago and Fred D. of Toulon, Ill.; four sisters-in-law, Barbara Rockwell, Elizabeth Rockwell, Barbara Fischer, Ann Hatt and brother-in-law, Michael Hatt; and many loving nieces, nephews and friends.
A visitation and Christian wake will be held at Church of the Ascension, 4853 Princess Anne Road on Sunday, June 25, from 3 to 5 p.m. A funeral Mass of the Resurrection will be celebrated at Church of the Ascension on Monday, June 26, at 7:30 p.m. Burial with full military honors will take place in Arlington National Cemetery on Thursday, June 29, at 3 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Church of the Ascension Memorial Fund.
Funeral arrangements are being handled by Smith & Williams Funeral Home, Kempsville Chapel. ILLUSTRATION: Personal photo
KEYWORDS: DEATH OBITUARY by CNB