This is from Dad's 1st Batallion, 20th Infantry Group Page:

Posted 2/22/06 - From Chuck Seketa

I received an e-mail today, February 22, 2006 from Bill Adams, one of the 13 officers that met in Quad D on July 28, 1966 and formed the 1st Battalion, 20th Infantry, "Sykes' Regulars".

"The oncologist surgeon called to say that my pancreatic cancer had spread to my liver and it would not be prudent to operate on my pancreas tumor.  Rather, he recommended I should see the oncologist chemotherapist/radiologist on Monday morning.
       
Lots of stuff on my mind now.  Not sure I want to be sick from chemo/radiation treatments during the remaining time (?) I got left.  My regular physician said if it will extend my life for three months, I should go for it.
       
No one wants to confirm it yet, but think I have about three months to go anyway.  So if he was talking about three months on top of the the three months I THINK I've got, I will go for it.  I'll be better equipped to make an informed decision next week.  So, there you have it." 


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Posted 6/21/06 - From Chuck Seketa

I received another e-mail from Bill today:

   "Chuck,  I was in the hospital for a week and got out yesterday.  My pancreas is gone and totally will not regulate sugar.  Doctor, insulin and I are the only thing that is regulating it now."


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Posted 7/4/06 - From Bill Adams' Family

   William J. Adams, American, US Army retired, loving husband, father, and
friend, comfortably passed away this morning, July 4, 2006 at 2:13 am EST.

Funeral announcement to come tomorrow.

We extend our appreciation for your thoughts, emails, prayers and support
during this difficult time.

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Regretfully, Chuck Seketa passed away in 2010

Papaw - My Dad's Dad

William Homer Adams (my grandfather) was born Nov. 14, 1919 in Madison, Indiana. He passed away on Feb. 13, 2001 and is buried in Section 1, Row G, Grave #52 at Veterans Cemetery, Madion, IN.

I found a little something today - a communication Dad wrote when compiling some geneaology information. He was sharing a story about my Papaw ...below is all I have from it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

He beat my teacher severely. So severe was his attack on the teacher that the man almost lost both his eyes. The teacher probably deserved some punishment and the school board promised dad that the teacher would be punished, but that wasn't good enough for dad. The teacher was young and had just got out of the Marine Corp. He had already been reprimanded for using his fists on one or two of the boys at school. It happened that he punched me in the mouth requiring stitches. The papers and lots of folks said it was to break up a fracas. That's the media for you. They never did get the facts. I had disturbed the teacher and he was irritated. He turned and threw the punch not knowing who the target of his ire was. The county prosecutor, John Ready O'Conner, refused to file assault and battery charges. It was his opinion the school board should handle the issue. This was not good enough for dad who was continuously goaded by Uncle Elmer to "break the man's arms and legs". As it was, Grandpa Harry Adams was the chairman of the opposing political party in Jefferson County and Dad, et. al. figured that is why O'Conner would not file assault and battery.

So, after an unsuccessful visit to the state attorney general's office and Judge Harry Nichol's office, dad met the teacher at the school parking lot and did the deed. There was only one witness, the janitor. Mr. Danner testified, "dad knocked him down, kicked him, picked him up, leaned him up against the car, knocked him down again, kicked him some more, put him in the car, and drove away with him". A school bus was blocking the exit from the parking lot and of course dad threatened the driver by displaying the beaten bloody teacher. I am surprised this didn't traumatize all the children on that bus. Dad then took the teacher to the hospital, dropped him on the pavement, then stopped at the sheriff's office and talked to Sheriff Jug Raisor before coming home. A short time later the Sheriff arrived at our house, and arrested dad, who promptly posted bond. Trial was about a couple months later. It took quite a while to seat a jury since several of the prospective male jurors agreed with dad's actions. That was certainly a back woods lessen in life for me. I had to quickly mature during that time in my life.

The end result, Dad was fined $200.00 . I suffered throughout the rest of my school days. Oh, how the teachers hated me and did all they could to make my school life miserable. Dad steadfastly refused to allow me to change schools for reasons he never explained. I suspect now the reason he didn't approve was that in order for me to move to another school, I would have to go to and from the new school from my grandparents (his in-laws) house. He couldn't stand the thought. When I would report to him how I was continuously "embarrassed" by the teachers he'd just chuckle as if it was something to laugh about. He did seem content knowing that my grades went down and stayed there. It was about this time in my life I started to hate him.

In retrospect, I now realize that he had a problem with his manhood. He was wrong of course, but if he did not take the action he did, he would lose face with his brother Elmer. Elmer was his mentor, where Ernie was not. Ernie was soft spoken, methodical, and thought things through. This was not in the cards for Elmer or dad. The night before dad beat that teacher; he and Elmer were up late drinking coffee at our house and planning how the deed should be done. I remember hearing Elmer tell dad that the two of them should take the teacher out to some secluded area, tie him to a tree with a log chain, and break his legs and arms with a wrecking bar.

Enough of that since it is one of the gloomiest part of my life. Knowing full well why not to follow my father's example I have tried hard to not let those inherited emotions control me and those around me. It was hard when I was younger, and I struggled against those urges to be a staunch disciplinarian, but now I know all of my seven children love me and are proud of me. Dad and I never, ever exchanged admissions of love for each other until much later in his life. Read on. My children and I are always expressing our love for each other as that is the way I feel it should be.

To add some perspective to the story I will add that I dropped out of school and joined the Army. The Army became my new family because I didn't know what "fair" was until then. Previously, everything had been one sided. I passed my GED a full year before my contemporaries from Madison Central High School graduated. I advanced rapidly in the enlisted ranks, got a commission and worked hard for my money. I like to say I gave Uncle Sam his dollar's worth. I retired with twenty plus years, seven months continuous active duty.

I got the third highest award for gallantry, the silver star; the second highest for valor for something I did during my first tour in Vietnam, and two purple hearts for wounds. Dad wanted to bask in the glory. I turned away from him, then he wanted to apologize for all the years of turmoil, I refused to listen, and again I turned away from him. When it became apparent that he could not do for himself, and was becoming a liability to mom I joined my siblings in putting him in the nursing home. Even there he would fight with the staff punching nurses, and he was often tied to his bed. His mind kept going down hill and about one and half years before he died, I visited him knowing that since I lived in Hawaii I would never see him again. I had mixed emotions not knowing what to say or do. Finally, I made it simple and leaned over, kissed his forehead, and told him I loved him. He said nothing as if he was stunned, staring at the wall. I promptly left his room knowing full well that the old man heard me and understood very well what I had said. Whether or not he knew why I said it, I will never know. Hell, I don't even know why and to think of it stirs up too much emotion. Frankly, I don't think he deserved the time I spent in the room with him. Conclusion: Life is a s***t sandwich and every now and then one must take a bite. I took mine.. . . several times.

Now, back to happier thoughts. The day has just begun here. I am late getting my breakfast. My son Daniel has left for school (7th grade) and I am left with my own designs for the remainder of the day. Cooking is one of my favorite hobbies and while nosing around in the freezer I ran across an Australian Leg of Lamb. I am going to thaw it out and roast it, then serve it with orange marmalade and all the fixin's. The problem is there are only three of us and none of us are too keen on eating left overs.

Aloha,
Bill

From Kalima

Back in April 2006, Dad asked me to speak at his funeral. His only guidance was to make everything short and sweet. When writing this, I realized that not only would I disobey him one last time, but I would also get away with it. The man who made such huge contributions to the Nation and his family, the man who influenced many of us, passed away last Tuesday on the 4th of July.

It’s been said that one of life's greatest fears is losing a parent. My brothers and sisters and I know this all too well. I've always heard that time and good memories will heal the pain that comes with his loss and I can honestly say by your presence and help over the past week, the healing has begun.

Dad was 63 when he left us, which was definitely not enough time too accomplish all he had from the cards he was dealt throughout his life. He was born a short time after the Great Depression in the hospital he passed away in. He was part of a large family and just like many other families back then, they weren’t all that wealthy
There were a lot of responsibilities put on him at a very young age and I think that contributed quite a bit to how he was perceived by most people that came in contact with him. At a young age he knew life was a struggle but still chose to tackle life's roughest paths because he knew it led to the best places. As you may already have known, he joined the Army at a very young age. In his own words he says, “I often wonder(ed) if going in the Army was the right thing for me to do, but considering all the other options, (I was left) no other choice. Too many mouths to feed at home”. Most people will make sacrifices like that for their children, but Dad did it as a child himself for his brothers, sisters and his entire family back home. The traits of an oldest sibling shined in his new occupation. He was always in charge, always getting things done right the first time and constantly felt an intense urge to take care of people.

The Army got their moneys worth from Dad in no time at all. He enlisted as a young Paratrooper in the Screaming Eagles and grew up fast. He was promoted just as quick and was coerced into becoming an Officer after attaining the rank of Staff Sergeant. Dad shined as Commissioned Officer and would later go into Combat with a Scout Platoon in the Americal Division, ending his first tour in Vietnam as a Company Commander. It was there that Dad rose to the occasion several times. One of which earned him the Silver Star for Gallantry. His citation reads:

Long ago when I would listen to him tell his war stories, I remember that each story usually contained the phrase, ”I had to bring them boys home”. After watching Forrest Gump for the first time, Dad jokingly pointed out that he had saved more guys than PVT Gump had.

After a strenuous tour in Vietnam, Dad wanted more. He was stationed at Ft. Gordon, training soldiers but wanted to do other things. He contacted the Dept. of the Army and asked to go to Ranger School. They told him he couldn’t and that he had to finish his year at Ft. Gordon. He immediately requested to go to flight school and was denied again. After being denied twice, Dad asked to go to the Special Forces Qualification Course enroute to Vietnam. The Army couldn’t deny that request and he succeeded at meeting the high standards of wearing the coveted Green Beret. He then deployed to Vietnam yet again, this time though with the most decorated combat unit to come out of the Vietnam war, the 5th Special Forces Group. He had come from nothing as a 17 y/o farm boy to becoming an officer in the most competitive career field that the military could offer by dedicating himself as Special Forces soldier to ensure that the weak could overcome the stronger adversary and he made this happen, time and time again. He made sure to raise us this way too. Where most father's would punish their children for fighting in school, he made sure we only fought when we were in the right and in all cases we were rewarded for standing up for ourselves and our family.

He spent a total of 21 years of the first part of his life in the Army and even after retiring, he devoted more of his time to training soldiers at the Pohakuloa Training Area in Hawaii. It was here that he was pivotal in a multi-million dollar project that would increase the efficiency of training on the 260,000 acre training facility. While there, Dad coordinated the huge feat of lighting flares over hundreds of acres, in the shape of a horse-shoe. He did all that so that the Space Shuttle “Challenger” could snap a pretty picture of his artwork on Challenger’s maiden voyage.

It wasn’t too long after this that his doctor told him that his heart wasn’t up to the challenge of his lifestyle. That’s when he got serious about fishing and changed his career from Soldier-trainer to deep-sea fisherman. He ran a charter boat called “Summer Rain” with Barry as his deck-hand. They were a great team and Dad was doing what he loved the most. Dad loved to fish, whether it was here at Old Timber’s or off the coast of Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. Matter of fact, he fished in my sister’s yard before he went to the hospital for the last time.

Growing up in our family was trying at times but Dad devoted all of his energy to making sure we grew up with the mindset to face the world as mature adults. When the family was together was when he was happiest. We’d usually end up talking about whatever random topic someone started off with. We were pretty diverse with our topics but his were usually ones that he was passionate about, politics and such. Where you could clearly tell he was a man of his word, who stuck to his guns on how he felt about things and would never hold back punches when talking about things that he had strong feelings about. He was a true conservative and it would upset him too see or hear about anything unpatriotic. Which I thought was a good thing.

Most of that time though, he focused on making sure the “family-machine” was running well and he couldn’t rest until everything was in good order. "Good order" is an understatement if I were to describe how he left us on this year's Independence Day.

After it was all said and done, he accomplished something that only a few parents can say they’ve done. He kept a family together through very rough times, whether it was health related, growing pains or just plain bad luck. We all came out smelling like roses. He raised some good kids but I think Barry and I could have made it a little easier on him. I don’t think there would be too many father’s out there that would’ve wanted to trade places with him, from that perspective. However, as much as Barry and I rebelled against him when we were younger, we both ended up considering him our best friend.

As strict as he was, he never wanted to take any of us to our first day of school. He would ask Mom one last time in bed the night before just to make sure we had to go to school. He wanted to ensure that we would be able to handle life’s struggles and wanted to prepare us for that. Sometimes people took that the wrong way, but it paid off. He was extremely strong-minded and could easily come across as a little overbearing, but he never, not once took advantage of someone weaker. However, he either loved you or didn't talk to you but his attitude never kept him from greeting strangers kindly. A lot of you may have started your relationship off with him this very way.

With all that said, he was very modest and especially around people we didn’t know. I don’t know how many 100’s of people he’s come across that had no clue what he had accomplished in life or how he grew up.

As his health slipped away, he would struggle with the things we take for granted. He and Mom would sometimes get really frustrated so I'd tell Dad, "ah you're good" and he’d tell Mom, “I’m good Mom”. I’d tell him that to let him know that those things are the small stuff in life and what he had left us with forever is so much more than we can ever pay him back for.

He told me recently that he felt bad to put this stress on us this way. It brought him to tears as he said he was so proud of us. Up to the very last breath he wanted to make sure it was as stress-free for us as possible.

He succeeded in a big way, we spent that night sifting through old family pictures and laughing together next to his bed. Most of us hadn't laughed like that in months. He made sure to make it as stress free for my sister even though she was trying her best to foil his plan as she was enroute at that very moment.

He laid there with his eyes shut while some of us stepped out momentarily or had dozed off and then he saw his moment of opportunity to leave quietly. He had no regrets, he had definitely made peace.

I'd be willing to say that he's looking down on us right now saying, "ah you're good".

Again, I’d like to thank you for all the things, big and small, that you all have done for my family. I’m sure Dad would agree that helping us like that is a bigger honor to him then any eulogy could do.

The Lord and the Centurion!

Philippians Chapter 4 Verse 7: And the peace of God, which is deeper than all knowledge, will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

The text preceding verse 7 tells us not to worry about anything, but pray about everything. Praise God with a thankful heart while offering up your prayers, letting your requests be known to God.

1966

Sophomore

1958 ?

Memorial Day 2007

Re: Sharp Shooter

-----Original Message-----
From: Bill Adams
Sent: Tuesday, December 27, 2005 10:34 AM
Subject: Re: Sharp Shooter

The louder the "CRACK", the closer the bullet! I had lots of antennas that seemed to be bullet magnets for me.

There was even a time when they tried to put a mortar round in my crater position. The rounds landed all around that hole all afternoon, but none ever landed inside it. Odds were that at least one round should have landed in the crater. It was wide and was a hole caused by a delayed fuse 500 Lb bomb. Out of that crater were four of our antennas, and the bad guys were less than 200 yards away. They knew I was in that hole and tried their dandiest to put a round in there with me. They eventually got lucky enough to put a piece of shrapnel in my arm when I was briefly outside the hole.

The crater was about 10 feet across from one side to the other and I was about to slide into the crater when the round landed just on the otherside of the crater. So I was about 10 feet from it.

at Plei Djerang

.... at Plei Djerang.

Pre-moon

He actually started to before Sheri stopped him. This is just after weighing in a 386 pound pacific blue marlin.

Condolences

Sunday, December 09, 2001

God Bless you all. You are the best of the best.

Bill Adams, SFOB , A251, B24, 5th Gp 69-70; 2/5 72-76.
Kamuela, HI USA

(Posted on this Special Forces Community Condolences Book )


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He also added to these sites in remembrance of

Gil Maestas and Ray Enners

SF coin

A younger version of "Hiself"

A younger version of "Hiself"

"His Royal Highess Hiself"

He named this pic, "His Royal Highess Hiself".

: )

Typical Dad

LT Adams

I can just hear him - "Hey somebody bring me da phone."

Now in VN

Christmas 2004 at Dude's

Dad

He loved to fish and was an excellent fisherman, too.

Not sure what I'm going to do with this blog. But it's here, and it's a little something to find if anyone does a search for "William J. Adams"



This goes out to all my family - I love you all.


. . . Barry