Bill Wingett Death – Obituary | Dead – Passed Away
Bill Wingett Death – Dead: A great loss was made known to InsideEko. As friends and families of the deceased are mourning the passing of their loved and cherished Bill Wingett.
So sad to hear about the passing of Bill Wingett today.
William T. Wingett was born in Spokane, Washington, and had just celebrated his 98th birthday in July.
Bill enlisted in August, 1942, and volunteered for the paratroopers. He was sent to Camp Toccoa, Georgia, and placed in Easy Company, 506th PIR.
Just before D-Day he was transferred to the 2nd Battalion HQ Company and jumped into Normandy with them. He landed in a flooded plain behind Utah Beach. His gear was weighing him down and he was just able to get his head above the water to take a breath before he was again dragged under. He had to cut himself free of his equipment “The water almost did me in. I was heavily laden and landed in 7 feet deep. I am not a swimmer”
Bill fought through Normandy, jumped into The Netherlands in September 1944 for Operation Market Garden, fought through the hellish conditions of the Battle of the Bulge, and through Germany, Austria and war’s end.
He was honorably discharged in Nov 1945. He then reenlisted for 3 years in the 82nd Airborne. He later also served in the Navy.
He settled in Oregon and opened his own woodwork shop.
Currahee and rest easy, Bill, thank you for your service and sacrifice. You will always be remembered
Bill Wingett. E Co. 506th PIR. One of the last of the “Band of Brothers”, passed away this morning in Albany Oregon. RIP Bill. Thanks for all your hospitality in the past and thank you for what you have done for this country and the constitution! It was great knowing you!
Very sad to hear of he passing of Bill Wingett this morning.
Bill served in WWII with the 101st Airborne, 2/506, Easy Company. Wingett is an original Toccoa Man – Bill was with Easy Company up until 5 days before D-Day where he was transferred to Headquarters Company. He jumped on D-Day into France, jumped during Operation Market Garden into Holland, and fought during the Battle of the Bulge where he earned a Purple Heart in each campaign. Discharged on 23rd November 1945, Bill returned 10 months later to join the 82nd Airborne for 3 years as a maintenance man at Fort Bragg Airfield.
I have had the distinct pleasure of visiting with Bill at 2 of the E Company reunions and was there when he presented the E Company guidon from WWII to the current (at that present time) 506th E Company at Fort Campbell, KY – home of the 101st Airborne. I’ll never forget it.
May you rest in peace, Bill! You will be missed and never forgotten.
My thoughts and prayers are with Bill’s family and friends and to all those remembering Bill at the E Company reunion this weekend in Texas.
Seriously 2020 can SUCK IT! Just got word that another amazing hero of the 101st Airborne, a man who I had the honor of walking the battlefields of Europe with back in 2007 has passed away! Bill Wingett was an inspiration to all of us on that tour and we had a truly amazing time. It was truly an honor to spend that time with him and again a year later in Minnesota for the BOB reunion!
Hang Tough ! We all miss you Bill, Soft landings my friend!!
A World War II hero has passed away, Mr. Bill Wingett, one of only three survivors currently of the most famous and decorated contention company, the ′′ E ′′ Company of the 101 American Airborne.
Rest In Peace Hero. And thank you for all the sacrifice you made alongside your fellow arms.
Having heard about this great loss, the family of this individual is passing through pains, mourning the unexpected passing of their beloved.
This departure was confirmed through social media posts made by Twitter users who pour out tributes, and condolences to the family of the deceased.
We are still working on getting more details about the death, as a family statement on the death is yet to be released.