Central Coast Chapter, Sons of the American Revolution: Central Coast Chapter Minutes for November 19, 2016

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 165^th Siler Descendants reunion, the last after his 100^th birthday, and many military reunions. Bill drove 8000 miles after his 98^th 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