Hometown: Waterbury, CT
Branch: U.S. Army
Unit: 145th Aviation Brigade, 118th Army
Helicopter Company
Military Honors: Air Medal with six Oak Leaf Clusters
Date of Sacrifice: May 28, 1965 - Bien Hoa Air Base, South Vietnam
Age: 18 
Conflict: Vietnam War, 1959-1975

William Oakley enlisted in the U.S. Army at the age of 17, extremely proud to serve his country. Assigned to the 145th Aviation Brigade, 118th Army Helicopter Company, PFC Oakley served as a door gunner (often called “shotgun riders”) in a Bell UH-1B Huey helicopter. He began his tour on February 23, 1965.

The use of helicopters in combat was first employed by the U.S. military during World War II and increased during the Korean War—mainly for scouting, medical evacuations, and locating downed flight crews.

In Vietnam’s mountainous terrain and dense jungles, the absence of a developed network of roads increased the role of the helicopter as a tactical fighting machine. More than 12,000 “choppers” were sent to Vietnam, with more 5,000 being destroyed in the conflict. Being on a helicopter crew—especially the exposed door gunner—was one of the most dangerous jobs in the war.

PFC Oakley, along with nine others, was killed in an accidental helicopter collision on May 28, 1965, at the Bien Hoa Air Base in South Vietnam. Despite being deployed for less than a year, Oakley had 175 missions documented in his record. Lost at age 18, he was posthumously awarded an Air Medal with six Oak Leaf Clusters.

PFC William Joseph Oakley is honored at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C., his name inscribed on Panel 01E, Line 126. He is buried alongside his fellow soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery, Section 37 Grave 4918.

Sources
Details submitted by Mr. Thomas Oakley, PFC Oakley’s brother
Card photo from the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, Wall of Faces: William Joseph Oakley
HonorStates.org: William Joseph Oakley
Together We Served: Oakley, William Joseph, PFC
Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association: Helicopter or incident 63-08594
U.S. House of Representatives Congressional Record, May 26, 2015: Honoring Private First Class William Joseph Oakley
Hartford Courant: Air Medal Given Posthumously for Torrington Native
Hartford Courant: Waterbury Youth Killed in VietNam
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund: Helicopters
Burial Site: Find a Grave