Maj. William S. Morgan Jr., USMC, Ret., of Elizabethtown, N.C., died Aug. 11, 2010. As a naval aviator, he served two tours in Vietnam. His first tour was from 1965 to 1966 as a helicopter pilot and his second tour from 1968 to 1969 as a fighter pilot. Morgan flew approximately 300 combat missions, receiving 20 Air Medals, including an Air Medal with a Gold Star/Flight Numeral 18; the Navy Commendation Medal; the National Defense Service Medal with one star; the Vietnam Service Medal with seven stars; the Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Silver Star; and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal. He also received a letter of commendation from the senior advisor of the 2nd Infantry Regiment endorsed by the senior advisor of the 1st Infantry Division and commanding officer, HMM-163, for outstanding support on an all-day combat mission he flew as the flight leader helicopter pilot in May 1966 at Gio Linh and Con Thien. Morgan wrote and published a poem on Gio Linh and Con Thien in 1993, memorializing the Marines who fought there 27 years earlier. He retired from the U.S. Marine Corps in 1974 after serving more than 20 years. He received his M.Ed. degree from N.C. State University. Afterward Morgan was employed by the Employment Security Commission of North Carolina for more than 15 years. He retired from the State of North Carolina in 1997. He was buried at Arlington National Cemetery. Morgan was a life member of The Citadel Alumni Association. He is survived by his wife, Jean Y. Morgan, P.O. Box 143, Elizabethtown, N.C. 28337-0143; two sons, a daughter, a brother, John E. Morgan, ’69, 14117 Williams Glenn Rd., Charlotte, N.C. 28273-3402; two sisters and seven grandchildren. Tags: 1954
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