WILLIAM H. READMAN, LTJG, USN

From USNA Virtual Memorial Hall
William Readman '77

Date of birth: November 22, 1954

Date of death: February 26, 1980

Age: 25

Lucky Bag

From the 1977 Lucky Bag:

1977 Readman LB.jpg

WILLIAM H. READMAN

International Falls, Minnesota

"BILL"

Hi! I am pretty much a Joe Average Mid who, at one time or another, sat on his share of Navy bananas. But on the whole it has been an interesting and enlightening four years, and I do not regret choosing this particular "scholarship" over the others that were available. My two most intelligent decisions at USNA were to 1) Become an English major, and 2) Choose Navy Air on Service Selection Night. As for all the rest of the Mickey Mouse, I am sure that like all bad memories, it will eventually be forgotten.

Good luck to all the people I have known and grown with, and condolences to all those we leave behind.

1977 Readman LB.jpg

WILLIAM H. READMAN

International Falls, Minnesota

"BILL"

Hi! I am pretty much a Joe Average Mid who, at one time or another, sat on his share of Navy bananas. But on the whole it has been an interesting and enlightening four years, and I do not regret choosing this particular "scholarship" over the others that were available. My two most intelligent decisions at USNA were to 1) Become an English major, and 2) Choose Navy Air on Service Selection Night. As for all the rest of the Mickey Mouse, I am sure that like all bad memories, it will eventually be forgotten.

Good luck to all the people I have known and grown with, and condolences to all those we leave behind.

Loss

William was lost on February 26, 1980 when the EA-6B Prowler he was co-piloting crashed short of the runway at Whidbey Island Naval Air Station.

Other Information

From researcher Kathy Franz: "William graduated from Falls High School in 1972. In February 1973, he was nominated to the Naval Academy by Sen. Walter F. Mondale, D-Minn."

From the June 1980 issue of Shipmate:

Lt.(jg) William Howard Readman USN was killed on 26 February 1980, when his EA-6B crashed into the water one mile short of the runway at Naval Air Station, Whidbey Island, Washington. He was a member of VAQ-130 and was undergoing fleet replacement training. The instructor pilot and another student also lost their lives.

Born in Virginia, Minnesota, Lt. (jg) Readman was appointed to the Naval Academy in 1973 by former Senator Walter Mondale and the late Senator Hubert Humphrey, both of Minnesota. While at the Naval Academy, he was an English major and a member of the 29th Company.

Lt.(jg) Readman entered primary flight training in August of 1977 at Pensacola. He was designated naval aviator in Meridian, Mississippi, on 13 March 1979.

His body was recovered on 5 March and he was buried on March 11th at his hometown of International Falls, Minnesota.

He is survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. H. R. Readman of International Falls, and his sister Susan.

William is buried in the Forest Hill Cemetery in International Falls, MN.

Photographs


Class of 1977

William is one of 16 members of the Class of 1977 on Virtual Memorial Hall.

QR code

The "category" links below lead to lists of related Honorees; use them to explore further the service and sacrifice of alumni in Memorial Hall.