WILLIAM L. COVINGTON, LT, USN
William Covington '65
Lucky Bag
From the 1965 Lucky Bag:
WILLIAM LEE COVINGTON
Rome, Georgia
A "fine southern gentleman" is a good description of Bill Covington. He brought a very likable personality to the Academy from Rome, Georgia. Bill attended Darlington School, a fine private school, before entering the Academy. In his four years in Annapolis, he has been a very active member of the Brigade of Midshipmen. In his plebe year he competed on the swimming and tennis teams and continued his athletics on the varsity swimming team each of his upperclass years. A lover of music. Bill found time to sing in the Naval Academy Antiphonal Choir and served as choir president in his first class year. He also became quite an able guitarist. Among his other activities were the Honor Committee, NAFAC, and the International Relations Club. Bill's fine record of achievement over his first three years earned for himself a foreign exchange cruise with the Danish Navy. By taking many elective courses during his four years of study, he was able to major in literature.
He was also a member of the 9th Company staff (fall).
WILLIAM LEE COVINGTON
Rome, Georgia
A "fine southern gentleman" is a good description of Bill Covington. He brought a very likable personality to the Academy from Rome, Georgia. Bill attended Darlington School, a fine private school, before entering the Academy. In his four years in Annapolis, he has been a very active member of the Brigade of Midshipmen. In his plebe year he competed on the swimming and tennis teams and continued his athletics on the varsity swimming team each of his upperclass years. A lover of music. Bill found time to sing in the Naval Academy Antiphonal Choir and served as choir president in his first class year. He also became quite an able guitarist. Among his other activities were the Honor Committee, NAFAC, and the International Relations Club. Bill's fine record of achievement over his first three years earned for himself a foreign exchange cruise with the Danish Navy. By taking many elective courses during his four years of study, he was able to major in literature.
He was also a member of the 9th Company staff (fall).
Loss
Bill was lost on January 7, 1969 when the H-46 helicopter he was aboard crashed near Chu Lai, South Vietnam.
Other Information
From the December 1969 issue of Shipmate:
Born in Rome, Lt. Covington was a member of the Ninth Company at the Naval Academy and of the varsity swimming team, president of the Academy Antiphonal Choir, and had a foreign exchange cruise with the Danish Navy before he was graduated in June 1965. A member of the Civil Engineer Corps, he had a tour of duty at the Naval Shipyard at Norfolk, Va., and in 1968 received a Master's degree in civil engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta. Stationed in Vietnam since Oct. 1968, Lt. Covington served as liaison officer for four Seabee Battalions with the 30th Naval Construction Regiment, based at Da Nang.
Among other awards, Lt. Covington held the Navy Commendation Medal with combat "V" and the Purple Heart.
A registered professional engineer and surveyor, Lt. Covington was a member of the Georgia Society of Professional Engineers and the American Society of Civil Engineers.
He is survived by his widow Charlotte and daughter Nellie Anne of Bell's Ferry Rd., Rt. #2, Rome, Ga. 30161; his parents Mr. and Mrs. Dean Covington of 230 West Lakeshore Dr., Rome, Ga. 30161, four brothers and a sister.
Bill married his wife, Charlotte Pritchard, on June 18, 1965.
He has a memorial in Georgia.
Photographs
From the December 1969 issue of Shipmate.
Remembrances
My wife and I were so fortunate to be next door apartment neighbors of Bill and Charlotte Covington when he attended Georgia Tech prior to going to Vietnam.
He spoke often about serving his country.
He was a good man and we still miss him and the innocent days of long ago. BILL FAMBROUGH, B.FAMBROUGH@MINDSPRING.COM, 10/26/07
Bill and I grew up together, worked Christmas jobs together, were in each others weddings. We joked about a business together. I returned from Vietnam just in time for him to go...we ate oysters and drank whiskey together.
In my heart and in my mind we are still together. RIC GRAHAM, 10/4/01
Memorials
From Rome News-Tribune on June 21, 2005 by Matt Tuck:
American Legion post adds name of fallen Vietnam Hero
Post 52 will now go by Adams-Coker-Covington, in honor of the late Navy Lt. William Covington.
Christmas 1968 was the last time 25-year-old William Lee "Bill" Covington saw his home.
Now, 36 years after his death in the Vietnam War, Rome has not forgotten one of its fallen sons.
Monday night, a charter was passed to officially add Covington's name to the American Legion Post 52, now known as the Adams-Coker-Covington post.
"This is a special honor," said Covington's brother, David Covington of Dunwoody. "He was a real superstar, but he didn't get a chance to fulfill his true potential."
Covington, a lieutenant with the Navy's Civil Engineer Corps and an honor student while at Darlington School, was killed along with four marines on Jan. 7, 1969 when their courier flight from Danang to Chu Lai was shot down.
Post Commander Ben Terry said it was the members of the post who had wanted Covington's name added to the title for seven years.
"His was one that was submitted when they named this post, and two years ago we decided to petition to have it added," he said. "It's an honor to have his family with us for this occasion."
Rome's Dean Covington Jr. said that even though it's been more than three decades, the people of Floyd County have never forgotten his brother.
"People have always asked me about him," he said. "A girl as early as last week mentioned him to me. The people that brought this together were friends of his, so it's great to know that they haven't forgotten about him."
To cap the service, a past national American Legion commander, Bob Turner, presented the official charter.
"This has been one of the highlights of my career," Turner said. "It's a solemn and touching occasion, honoring a young man who gave his life for his country. It's really something to see that after so long, this post saw it fit to recognize his service."
Related Articles
Douglas McCarty '65 was also in 9th Company.
The "category" links below lead to lists of related Honorees; use them to explore further the service and sacrifice of alumni in Memorial Hall.
