William “Bill” Joseph Maillet, Jr.

U.S. Navy 1954 – 1962 / 1967 – 1978

Born December 14, 1936, in Rumford, Maine, Bill was the oldest boy and one of seven children. Growing up, he worked on his grandfather’s farm feeding and milking cows and helping with the planting. When not working, he particularly enjoyed playing in the hay. At twelve, he took a job as a gas station attendant pumping gas for cars; there was no such thing as self-service gas stations in those days. He also worked picking tobacco leaves for use as cigar wrappers, measuring each leave to ensure it met the proper “fingertip-to-elbow” length before picking.

In May 1954, 17-year-old Bill joined the Navy, earned his GED, and headed south to bootcamp in New York state.  He was designated as a storekeeper prior to arriving at his first duty station which was with the F3-A Screaming Demons. He met the love of his life, Louise Saucedo in 1955, while he was on leave in San Francisco, California. On April 14, 1956, barely a year after meeting, they were married. His first ship was the aircraft carrier USS Bon Homme Richard (CV-31), affectionately known as “Bonnie Dick.” In February 1958, he arrived at Kwajalein Naval Station as part of Operation Hardtack, a series of thirty-five nuclear tests involving over 19,000 military, civil servants, Department of Defense, and Atomic Energy Commission personnel.

By 1962, Bill was concerned about the amount of time he was spending away from his growing young family, so he accepted his honorable discharge. It was not long before Vietnam began to heat up, and Bill was chomping at the bit on the sidelines. He wanted to help, so he rejoined the Navy in 1967. His new job was as an Aviation Mechanic because there were no openings in his previous supply department storekeeper billet. He soon deployed to Vietnam onboard USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63) and upon its return, the ship was met by crowds of people throwing eggs and tomatoes at anyone in uniform. Nine months later he left for training at Naval Air Station Miramar, Calif., followed by deployment to the Mediterranean Sea onboard the aircraft carrier USS Independence (CVA-62). His squadron later deployed onboard the USS Ranger (CVA-61) and USS Nimitz (CVN-68).

During his twenty-year career, Bill visited six of the seven continents and attended numerous schools and seminars. For his service to our country, he was awarded the National Defense Service Medal w/star, Meritorious Unit Commendation, Navy Unit Commendation, Good Conduct Medal w/star, Vietnam Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, and Vietnam Campaign Medal w/device.

Bill retired from the Navy in September 1978. Shortly thereafter, he accepted a civil service position in Japan where he instructed the military on how to properly treat corrosion on airplanes. He retired from civil service at the age of sixty-five. In 2000, they decided to move from Norfolk, Virginia, to Atoka, Tenn., to be closer to their daughters (Linda, Debbie, and Deanna). He and Louise were the proud parents of five children, two boys and three girls. Bill’s beloved wife Linda, died in 2021 and he still lives in Atoka, watched over by his loving daughters. His son, Mike, lives in San Diego, Calif., and does what he can to help. Bill is the proud grandfather of seven and great-grandfather of four. He is a member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7175 and the Fleet Reserve Association. He was nominated for Veteran of the Month by his daughter, Linda Bacon.