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Wigan Album

ASPINALL FAMILY in U.S.A.

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William Albert Aspinall. 50th. Anniversay
William Albert Aspinall. 50th. Anniversay
Photo: RON HUNT
Views: 2,670
Item #: 29726
I make no apologies for posting this as it is Wigan related.
William Albert Aspinall was K.I.A. 50 years ago today. 9-13-67. Bill is the brother of a good friend of mine, Don Aspinall, who lives in Virginia, who himself fought in Korea and Vietnam. Their father was born and lived in Wigan. He was born in the Lock House on the L.L. canal at Standish Lower Ground. The lock and house have long gone but you can still see the remains of the lock and you can make out part of the floor of the house, which is hidden under a small bush at the side of the lock. He himself had a very distinguished army career and was based in England during the war and visited relatives in Wigan regularly.
Bill is centre back row. The Marine front right is Paul Dupree he was one of only two survivors when this group of Marines got ambushed whilst out on patrol in Thua Thien Province, South Vietnam.9-13-67. Don told me that Paul would often phone him, he was suffering from P.T.S.D. and couldn’t live with the fact that all his friends died and he lived. As today is the 50th anniversary of Bill’s death I promised Don, who is very proud of his Wigan ancestry that I would make sure that Bill’s Wigan roots wouldn’t be forgotten. Bill was studying to be a priest when he got drafted. He is buried in Plattsburgh N.Y.
R.I.P Bill. I’ll be thinking of you today. SEMPER FI.

See my other post from 3 years ago on ‘ASPINALL FAMILY in U.S.A.’ and link below with more information about Bill.

http://www.virtualwall.org/da/AspinallWA01a.htm

Comment by: RON HUNT on 13th September 2017 at 08:46

The photo I have referred to is on ALBUM under' ASPINALL FAMILY in AMERICA' also an email which Don sent to me 3 years ago with a harrowing account of the Ambush.

Comment by: Veronica on 13th September 2017 at 09:56

How very sad and how awful to have to live with what happened to his mates. They were our generation - whilst we were enjoying our time in the sixties they had to go through the horrors of Vietnam. Rest in Peace young man.

Comment by: Scaramouche on 13th September 2017 at 17:37

Ron having just read the email from your friend I am in tears....R.I.P. William Albert
Semper Fi

Comment by: RON HUNT on 15th September 2017 at 13:15

It is with a sad heart that I have just heard that Don, Bill's brother, passed away on Tuesday just 1 day before Bill's 50th anniversary of his death so unfortunately he wouldn't have seen this post. Don was himself a ex serviceman. serving in the air force in the Korean war and Vietnam. R.I.P my good friend.

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