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f
 Colonel (USAF Ret.)
Willis Lyndell
"Bill" Helmantoler, (1921-2011) was born on
August 6, 1921 in New Columbia, Illinois to Willis Eli and Myda Martin
Helmantoler. After graduation from East Alton -
Woodriver High School in Woodriver, Illinois, he attended the University of
Illinois for three years. He then signed up for the Army in 1941 and
reported to Scott Field, Illinois on 5 January 1942. Colonel Helmantoler completed flight training at
Goodfellow Field, San Angelo, Texas (Class 42-I) on October 9, 1942. He then moved to
Tampa, Texas awaiting assignment to the Pacific to the 13th Air Force as a C-47 pilot and
Operations Officer. It was as an Operation Officer that Colonel Ford asked him to join the
newly formed 13th Rescue Group as their Operations Officer. Captain Helmantoler was
checked out in the OA-10A by Captain Gerard F. Wientjes and flew many rescue missions with
the 2nd Emergency Rescue Squadron.
Colonel
Helmantoler was offered a promotion to Major by Colonel
Wallace S. Ford to stay another six months,
but opted to return to the United States in August 1945. He was stationed at Keesler Field
in Biloxi, Mississippi and while in the Air Force flew the C-47,
OA-10A, B-17, B-24, B-25,
and P-38. He was awarded the
Silver Star for rescuing 17 members of three bomber crews under fire on
4 March 1945 in the southern Philippines.
Following the war, he was given various high level public affairs
assignements at Air Force headquarters in Japan, in Hawaii, and with the
Office of Secretary of Defense in the Pentagon.
He remained in the Air Force,
but completed his Bachelor's and Masters Degrees at Boston University in
1949 and 1950 respectively. He was awarded the Legion of Merit 4
times. His last assignement was as a press officer at the 1968 Paris Peace
Talks under President Johnson.
MAJOR ASSIGNMENTS
Pacific Theater, WWII (1944 - 1945)
Keesler Field, Mississippi (1945 - 1948)
Boston University (1949 - 1950)
Eglin AFB, Florida (1950 - 1953)
The Pentagon (1953 - 1956)
Japan-5th Air Force (1956 - 1959)
Randolph AFB, Texas (1959 - 1962)
Industrial College, Washington, D.C. (1962 - 1963)
Pacific Command, Honolulu, Hawaii (1963 - 1967)
The Pentagon (1967 - 1969)
Retired (August 1969)
After retiring from the Air Force in
1969, he became director of public relations for American Airlines in
Washington, D.C. He went on to work for large public relations firms in
Chicago and Washington D.C. before retiring as president of Helmantoler
Communications in 1991. His first wife, Brickey Casey Helmantoler died in
1967.
Bill passed away March 16,
2011 at the Greenspring Villiage Retirement Home in Springfield, Virginia.
Survivors include his wife of 40 years, Mary Strader Helmantoler of
Springfield; a son and daughter by his first marriage: Michael Helmantoler
of Sandy, UT and Lynn Greene of Auburn, CA; a son, John Helmantoler of
Midlothian, VA; a sister, Leatha Jorgensen of Springdale, AR; nine
grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren.
His awards and decorations
included: Silver Star, (See
extract
copy) Legion of Merit (4 BS),
Air Medal, (7 OLC),
World War II Victory
Medal, Asiatic/Pacific Campaign Medal (7 Battle Stars), National Defense Service ribbon,
Air Force Commendation Medal, & Pilot Wings.
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