A former instructor of the University of Mississippi’s Army ROTC senior class hopes his recent gift to Ole Miss will make life easier for student-veterans.
With $50,000, the decorated, 26-year Army veteran established the Carolyn and Colonel Bill Veteran and Military Services Endowment, which will be used to strengthen UM’s VMS department in its mission to support student-veterans.
“I want to help young veterans who are trying to get an education, so they can better their lives not only in the military but after the military when they return to contribute to their communities,” the donor said. “I just thought it was time to give back a little bit to those who were willing to serve their country because I have been so fortunate in my life to be able to get a college education and move forward.”
Born in Sumter, South Carolina, and raised in Wilmington, North Carolina, Col. Bill — now a resident of Oxford, Mississippi — earned a BA in political science from The Citadel, an MA in education and human resource development from George Washington University, and is an Army Command and General Staff College graduate.
His generous gift to Ole Miss is associated with the VMS “Welcome Home” Campaign Fund, which was established to provide the public with the opportunity to thank those who put their lives on hold, to offer solutions to tangible needs and to change the college experience for post-traditional students who’ve decided to pivot from military to civilian life.
“Many of these student-veterans gave away their 20s to go and do what this nation asked of them,” said Andrew Newby, VMS director. “They’ve written their blood type on their clothes to go to work every day, and they’ve proudly served everyone in the nation before choosing to attend college.
“This gift will make military-connected students feel seen, and having someone clearly demonstrate their belief in these students changes how they understand their decision to pursue higher education.”
Designated as a Distinguished Military Graduate in 1962, Col. Bill was commissioned an Army second lieutenant and was assigned to the famed 82nd Airborne Division at Ft. Bragg, North Carolina. In 1964, he volunteered for combat in Vietnam and served as an adviser to a South Vietnamese Infantry Battalion.
From 1965-1967, he was assigned to Ft. Jackson, South Carolina, where he commanded a basic training company and was later selected to be the aide-de-camp to the commanding general. In 1967, he returned to Vietnam and served as an infantry company commander in the 1st Cavalry Division. After being wounded, he was evacuated to Ft. Bragg before being assigned to Ole Miss where he served until 1970 and was instrumental in reinstituting the Ole Miss Army ROTC rifle team.
“There was a building behind Guyton Hall that appeared to be an old rifle range that was being used as a storage facility,” the colonel remembered. “The Athletic Department gave us some money, so we cleaned up that range, bought rifles and started the Ole Miss Army ROTC rifle team. When I left here, they were doing pretty good, winning the annual Magnolia State Championship Trophy.”
In an era when Vietnam veterans were frequently harassed and ridiculed, the donor said his experience on campus was positive.
“Ole Miss was a perfect place to come back to,” he said. “People were very military-oriented, and you could wear the uniform here without being concerned about having something happen to you like what was happening to military instructors in other parts of the country. It was very nice to be able to come back to a military-friendly environment.”
After leaving the university, Col. Bill served in various roles in Korea, Ft. Hood, Ft. Monroe and Quantico. He was then assigned to the Office of the Secretary of the Army in Washington, D.C.
“I was fortunate to serve with a lot of good people in the military. I had some good commanders and some damn good troops that served with me,” said the donor, who was lauded extensively for his service.
His military awards and decorations include the Combat Infantryman Badge, Senior Parachutist Badge, two Bronze Stars (one for heroism), a Purple Heart, three Meritorious Service Medals, an Air Medal (for over 25 combat assault missions), three Army Commendation Medals, a Navy Commendation Medal, a Meritorious Unit Citation, a Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation, a Vietnam Service Medal (representing five campaigns) and a National Defense Service Medal.
“All the medals you win don’t make you a hero,” the colonel said. “The heroes in my estimation are the ones who didn’t make it back or came back in flag-draped coffins. I’m proud that they were willing to put their lives on the line; it’s just unfortunate that they didn’t make it back.”
In 1985, Col. Bill met Carolyn, the woman who would become his wife. A contract representative for the Army Air Force Exchange System, she was coordinating activities for the annual rifle and pistol matches at Camp Perry, Ohio.
Col. Bill retired in 1988 and returned to Wilmington to care for his ailing mother and grandfather. There, he worked for five years as police chief at New Hanover Regional Medical Center.
During their time in North Carolina, Carolyn worked at the Wilmington Red Cross office. In this capacity, she served as the Director of Regional Services to military families. She also served as the Director for the Emergency/Disaster Relief Program, training volunteers and coordinating local, state and federal (FEMA) support.
For over 30 years, Carolyn volunteered to work with Domestic Violence organizations, serving as counselor and court advocate for rape victims.
Ever enjoying life to the fullest, she was a gourmet cook, avid reader and a collector of books and wine. She loved watching and feeding the birds and squirrels in their yard and caring for their Jack Russell terrier, Scooter.
In 2005, the couple made Oxford their home base and enjoyed traveling the world together, visiting Alaska, London, Paris, Rome, Casablanca, Morocco, the French Riviera, the Panama Canal and the Caribbean before Carolyn passed away in 2015.
Matt McGraw, an Oxford realtor who helped the couple find their home near the university, remembers the couple’s hospitality.
“Bill and Carolyn immediately took me under their wing. I’m so grateful to them for the great memories and good fellowship we had together,” he said. “Col. Bill is a generous man with a big heart. If he’s on your side, he will truly do anything for you.”
To make a gift to the VMS “Welcome Home” Campaign Fund, send a check, with the fund’s name written on the memo line, to the University of Mississippi Foundation, 406 University Ave., Oxford, MS 38655 or click here. For more information, contact Brett Barefoot, executive director of central development, at bmbarefo@olemiss.edu or 662-915-2711.
By Bill Dabney/UM Foundation