On the recordJune 5, 2017
today I wish to pay tribute to William Barclay Bates, a father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and veteran of the Second World War. Bill, as he liked to be called, passed away last December in Jackson, WY, at the age of 91. Next week, his family will gather at Wyoming Veterans Cemetery in Casper, WY, to commemorate his life and honor his contributions to our country. I wish to add a few words to what they will say about this brave and stalwart man. Bill's life story typifies many of his generation. He was born on December 14, 1924, in Los Angeles, CA, to Jeffrey Otto and Clara Virginia Bates. His father, Jeff, served in the American Expeditionary Force in Russia during World War I. His mother, Clara, was a telephone operator. When Bill was 5, he moved with his family to McAlester, OK. This was during the middle of the Great Depression, and times were tough. Bill's father owned a radio repair shop and later ran a roller rink to provide for the family. As Bill said some years later, ``We never had much money, but neither did anyone else. We never missed any meals, but we ate a lot of beans, and a soup bone on Sunday was a real treat.'' In September 1941, at the age of 17, Bill enlisted in the Army. It was 3 months before Pearl Harbor. After basic training, Bill applied for and was accepted to airplane gunnery school. Following completion of his training, a request came in for a gunner for a group headed to Africa.…
