Central Coast Chapter Minutes for November 19, 2016
Meeting to Order: 1:05 PM
Invocation
Pledges of Allegiance and SAR
Sunshine Report: Earl
Rader still not able to attend.
Secretary’s Report:
October Minutes accepted as read.
Treasurer’s Report:
Current account balance $2,531.39
Old Business: Dues are needed by Dec 15.
New Business: Our Chapter received the Col. Richard Locke
Jr. Membership Award for membership retention by a small chapter.
The following is our tribute to Bill Siler, thanks in large
part to John Siler and Nate Maas. William Wallace Siler was born 23 Jun 1916 to
Arthur and Ethyl Siler in Macon Co., North Carolina and he died 3 Oct 2016.
While Bill would never admit it, what transpired over that 100 years was rather
remarkable.
Following the death of his father, Bill’s family moved to
Mexico, MO. In 1937, a barnstormer pilot came to Mexico and gave rides for
$3.00. Bill was hooked. Bill obtained his civilian pilot’s license. Bill later attended
Westminster College in Fulton MO and it was there that he met his wife to be,
Ruth Louisa Beard.
Bill always interested in politics and political science was
concerned by the rise of Fascism in Europe and he joined the Royal Canadian Air
Force prior to Pearl Harbor. Bill was eventually commissioned as a navigator,
his legs too short to be a pilot.
John shared the most ironic of anecdotes where Bill returned
to MO on leave after Pearl Harbor to marry Ruth and was arrested for draft
evasion all while in RCAF dress uniform. After all was sorted, Bill found
himself in the US Army Air Corps as a navigator and stationed at Glatton near
Peterborough, England. Bill’s B-17 crew,
part of the 457th heavy bomber group, flew 37 missions over Germany. Bill then
volunteered for a Mosquito Squadron stationed at Watton and flew reconnaissance
until war’s end.
After WWII, Bill re-enlisted several times and found himself
with Air Transport Command and was involved in the Berlin Airlift, while
stationed in Guam Bill helped aerial photograph much of the South Pacific, and
during the Korean War crewed on C54 transports.
During the Cold War, Bill found employment with the
Aeronautical Chart and Information Center. Bill served our country for 32 years
and he attained the rank of Lt. Colonel. After retirement, he and Ruth first
settled in Lompoc but Ruth’s health required a move to Las Cruses, NM and then
Dallas, TX. She passed away in 2001. Bill also had a home built in Morro Bay, CA
where he resided until his passing.
Bill is remembered for being tenacious, patriotic, humorous,
giving and gentle. Bill’s interests were bridge, history, political science and
Latin. Bill’s keen appreciation for country and family led him to attend events
like the 165th Siler Descendants reunion, the last after his 100th
birthday, and many military reunions. Bill drove 8000 miles after his 98th
birthday to attend reunions in Texas and in Canada. Bill also served as SAR
Central Coast Chapter Vice President. Bill is survived by his son
Bill Siler and Sect'y Chris Scrimiger
John and sisters Ruth
and Reisa.
Personally, I’ve never known anyone who could recite
Emerson’s “Concord Hymn” but Bill could. Every stanza.
Closing Pledge
Benediction by Nate Maas
Adjournment: 2:10 PM
Respectfully Submitted,
Chris Scrimiger
Chapter Secretary
