October 27, 2019. He was born November 2, 1927 in Coffeyville, Kansas, eldest son of
Mr. and Mrs. Harold O’Connell.
Bill attended Holy Name Church where he was an Altar Server. He attended Holy
Name Elementary School through the 8th grade, Roosevelt Junior High School for the
9th Grade, and graduated from Field Kindley High school in 1945.
Captain O’Connell joined the Navy in 1945, and was assigned to Pensacola, FL for
Flight School, becoming a Midshipman in 1949. His class of 125 were assigned to the
USS Valley Forge for their first cruise on the carrier; this was the first time since 1776
that US Midshipmen had been in combat. He served in the Navy for 34 years: in
bombing squadron VA55 in the Korean War aboard the Valley Forge CV45, and
assignments on land including the Pentagon and the Army, Navy, and National War
Colleges.
Captain O’Connell was Executive Officer and then Commanding Officer of the VF 213
squadron, serving in Vietnam combat aboard the USS Kitty Hawk CV63 from 1964
to1966. In 1967-1968 as a fighter pilot, he was Operations Officer of the USS
Enterprise.
During his time in the Navy, Captain O’Connell earned numerous citations, including the
Gallantry in Action and the Flight Aviation Medal with 22 stars. At his retirement, he had
logged more than 5,700 hours in his log book. Clearly, he loved the Navy well before he
was even old enough to enlist.
Captain O’Connell’s love for and faithfulness to his wife of 68 years, Philomena
Ridgway O’Connell of Coffeyville, and his daughters Anne, Kathleen, and Erin, and their
husbands Richard, Joseph, and Peter was abundant and never failing. He is also
survived by loving grandchildren Meghan, Katie, Ryan, Shannon, Sheila, Molly, Colleen,
and spouses, as well as his great grandchildren Luke and Annabelle. He will be dearly
missed and forever loved by his family.
May God bless and keep this brave, loving, and strong husband, with Eternal Rest.
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