A Salute to the Real Mustang

The first time I met Bill Woidyla was in the Tomball VFW last November. It was a rare chilly day in the Houston area, and Bill wore a leather jacket, literally covered in patches, leaving no doubt for anyone where his heart belonged.

As I was introduced to him as "Mustang Jan", I couldn't help but notice a gleam in his eye, as he said, "C'mere, Jan, . . I'll show you what a Real Mustang is.". . Then he proudly showed me the watch he wore from his Mustang Association. Unwilling to completely concede to him, he laughed as I said, "OK, Bill, you pilot the skies, I'll pilot the road!"

Bill didn't make it to our second Tomball visit. He was undergoing treatment for cancer at that time.

When Tomball III came along, Bill sent me a note saying he probably would not be able to attend. He was scheduled for a "procedure" on Monday and just didn't feel up to it. Then, on Saturday, while I sat at the registration desk, I heard Mike "Bear' Bryant call out to me. ."Jan!. .. Look who's here!" .. .I looked up . . and there stood Bill and Sandy .. smiling from ear to ear. I got up .. Bill gave me a big hug, and laughed, as I conceded . ."The Real Mustang is here!"

A little bit later on, Bill and Sandy sat down with me. I couldn't help but notice two beer bottles in the front of Bill. Noticing me looking at the bottles, Bill looked up at me and I saw that same gleam in his eyes. .as he smiled and said, "Jan, . I can't swallow . . so I have one full bottle and one empty one. I swish from one and spit into the other!" . . We all three laughed. . A true Marine, Bill had adapted, improvised and overcome!

Bill, we salute you. ..Semper Fi! .. . . .we will miss you . . . and we will smile through our tears as we remember you.

Bill Woidyla, Major USMC (Ret) RIP

Lord, guard and guide the men who fly
Through the great spaces in the sky,
Be with them always in the air,
In dark'ning storms or sunlight fair.
O, Hear us when we lift our prayer,
For those in peril in the air.

Eternal Father, grant, we pray
To all Marines, both night and day,
The courage, honor, strength, and skill
Their land to serve, thy law fulfill;
Be thou the shield forevermore
From every peril to the Corps.

Bill Wodyla: 12 Aug 1939 - 21 Sept 2003
Home: Katy, Texas
Primary "In-Country": Squadron HMM-361
All Squadron(s) and Years: HMM-361 1967, HMX 67-70, VMO-6 71-72, HMX72-75, MGD 75-76

Mission accomplished, my friend.

Semper Fidelis and God speed!

~ Larry

Semper Fi, Bill, Semper Fi.

Semper Fi Bill. You'll not be forgotten!!!!!!!!!!!

Semper Fi,

John Allison

Visitation tomorrow beginning at 1100

Svc. at 1400

Memorial Oaks Funeral Home, 13001 Katy Fwy 77079. TP# 281-497-2210. Eldridge Exit. South side of freeway.

Flowers should be sent to the above address of the funeral home.

There will be bagpipes and Bill's pride and joy, his '58 red Chevy, will be parked in front.

Memorial svc. at Quantico will be NLT this Thursday, but Sandy does not have that information yet.

He fought the best fight he could
He fought the fight as he knew he should
But God has plans for my friend
And Bill's presence in my heart will never end.

Semper Fi to the finest Marine I will ever know. Bill was the standard by which all Marines should be judged. His idea of life was to learn from the past - don't live in it. It was always two steps forward from the last step with him. I admired him. I respected him. I loved him.

Jerry O. Buckner

Semper Fi
'GOD BLESSED AMERICA'

More information from Bill's nephew, Doug.

He will be sent to Virginia and on Thursday he will be buried at
the Marine section of the Quantico National Cemetery through:

Blasius-Baker Funeral home
9320 West St.
Manassas, VA 22110
phone # 1-703-368-3116
Flowers can be sent to either place (or both).

Bill

I, like Jan first met Bill at the T.T.#1. I talked with him for quite a while, & realized he had his stuff all in one bag. A true "Marines", "Marine. Had the pleasure of talking with him & his wife at T.T.#3. Jan wasn't B.S.ing, he said I can't swallow it, but I can sure as hell taste it. Being a mustang he could relate to what we enlisted men put up with in the Nam. I didn't know him for long, but I couldn't help but admire & respect him. I hope the good Lord knows he has taken one of our Best. To his friends & family my heart felt condolences. I truly liked the man. Semper Fi Bill, & if I get there we'll smoke a cigarett, drink some beers & talk about flying & that red 58 Impala you loved. I'll drink one for you tonight my friend & feel sad. ED

I had the opportunity to speak with Bill in Tomball. Glad I did. Semper Fi Sir!

Here's Bill from Runion2002.

It was my privilige to meet with Bill and Sandy at their home last spring. I have met few if any, with such courage, character, and strength as Bill exhibited, even in the midst of his cancer treatment. Our prayers and thoughts go out to his family.
Semper Fi
Don

re: Bill Woidyla

I first met Bill in February of this year when I drove up to Houston to have lunch with him.

I found out that he and I had similar roots back in Portland, Oregon. And even further back in Minnesota.

The second time I saw him was when Don York, Jerry Buckner and I met at his house in April
of this year to have lunch with him and to visit with him during his cancer treatment.

His wife Sandy had made a lunch for all of us and his daughter Julia was there from Virginia to serve it
and also to visit with us. Sandy came home from work early and we all had a chance to meet
and talk to her also.

Bill was a marvelous gentleman and will be missed by all. I felt honored to have met him and known
him for the short time that I had the opportunity.

As Don said, the man's "courage and character" were something to behold.

Semper Fi, Bill !!! You were a true Marine.

Mike

Bill will indeed be missed. I for one cherish all of our correspondence and his wonderful memories. Sad, sad news.

Semper Fi, Bill

Although I am on vacation and the sun is shining bright in Miami Beach, it is truly a dark day for all of us. I have just learned that Bill is "RTB". I, too, met Bill at Tomball Takerover #1, and had a great time with him. But, when he showed up at TT#3, we all hooted and hollered. It was FANTASTIC to see his smile. And, I can still see his smiling face as he waved to us when his wife drove him out of the VFW parking lot. You will be missed - SEMPER FI, BILL !!!

FYI

Bills obit was in the Houston Chronicle today. Quite impressive. A long list of achievments. So long Bill, you'll be missed. S/F ED

Bill's nephew has notified me that the funeral at Quantico will be on Friday, not Thursday as mentioned before.

Bill's Farewell

Today, Bear Bryant and I, along with other PopASmoke members, Mike Amtower, Jim Moriarty and "Tex" Evans, were privileged to attend the services to say our farewells to Bill.

The honor, dignity, and humor displayed in the services were evidence of the honor, dignity and humor displayed by the man, as we knew him._ Military honors were carried out by the VFW and The Military Order of The Purple Heart, such as were deserved by Bill._ But, most touching, was the love and respect for him, shown by Bill's family._

The following is a poem, read at the service, by Bill's daughter, Julie, at Bill's request._ A copy was given to each of us there, and it is worthy of sharing.

A Place Where Pilots Can Go

I hope there's a place, way up in the sky,
Where pilots can go, when they have to die.
A place where a guy can buy a cold beer,
For a friend and a Comrade, whose memory is dear.

Just a quaint little place, kind of dark, full of smoke,
Where they like to sing loud, and love a good joke.
The kind of a place where a lady could go,
And feel safe and protected, by the men she would know.

There must be a place where old pilots go,
When their paining is finished and their airspeed gets low.
Where the whiskey is old, and the women are young,
And songs about flying and dying are sung.

Where you'd see all the fellows who'd flown west before,
And they'd call out your name, as you came through the door.
Who would buy you a drink, if your thirst should be bad,
And relate to the others, "He was quite a good lad!"

And then through the mist, you'd spot an old guy,
You had not seen in years, though he taught you to fly.
He'd nod his old head, and grin ear to ear,
And say, "Welcome, my son, I'm pleased that you're here.

For this is the place where true flyers come,
When their journey is over, and the war has been won.
They've come here at last to be safe and alone
From the government clerks and the management clone,

Politicians and lawyers, the Feds and the noise.
Where all hours are happy, and these good ole boys
Can relax with a cool one, and a well deserved rest.
This is heaven, my son...You've passed your last test!"

Author - Captain E. Hamilton Lee

Semper Fi, Bill . .. . Rest in Peace

SEMPER FI, BILL. YOU WILL BE MISSED.

Bear.

🙁

Bill's daughters have requested that I post the tribute I wrote for Bill.

Semper Fi, Julia and Debra. You're in my thoughts and prayers.

********************************************

The Light That is You
By Camille N. Nelsen

Why is it
That the sun seems so much brighter
That the air seems so much fresher
That the leaves seem so much greener?

Why is it that today
The day isn't darker
The air more polluted
The leaves brown and dry?

When you left us yesterday
The world became darker
The skies became clouded
And the rain fell from above.

When you left us yesterday
All I could think of
Were the things I'd wanted to say
Like, Thank you, How are you
And Thank you once again.

You are a hero
A giant among men
A Marine, a Husband
Father
Uncle
Mentor
Friend.

We have all lost you
Lost your brilliant smile
Your patient words
And your kind, loving ways.

So why is it
That the sun shines even brighter
The air is so much fresher
And the leaves are so much greener?

Maybe it's because
The Light that is You
Shines even more powerfully than before.

The Light that is You
Can be seen by all of us,
Felt by all of us
And loved by all of us.

Maybe it's because
We haven't lost you at all.

You will always be with us
Near us, around us
In our thoughts
In our prayers
In our hearts.

Attention on deck!
There is a Heavenly Marine
Taking up his new post...

...Helping the sun shine brighter
The air smell sweeter
And making all the leaves of life
A whole lot greener.

Camille,

Your words once again leave me speechless. I love you girl.

Hugs,

Kelly

Camille,

Truly,
Julia and Debra

You did it, Camille. Thanks, and Semper Fi, again, to Bill.

Bill,

Keep the turns up.

We will miss you and your outstanding sense of what Marine and Brotherhood should be.

Hand salute. Volley. Taps.

Semper Fidelis, Bill.

Bill Woidyla's Guestbook

The Houston Chronicle has a guestbook for Bill located at:
http://www.legacy.com/houstonchronicle/LegacySubPage2.asp?Page=GuestBook&PersonID=1418904

Semper Fi, Bill...

I have received this from Sandy and wanted to pass it on.
YR

Dearest Camille

I apologize for the lateness of responding to the many tributes granted to Bill.

I am still trying to come to terms with the realization that he is gone.

The past two weeks have been pretty much a blur to me but as I visit the POPASMOKE site daily with broken heart and tears streaming I know that I must respond. The outpouring of love and support is quite overwhelming.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their prayers and support given to and for me and his family over the past months. During his cancer treatments, corresponding via the internet kept his spirits up and something to look forward to each day.

Bill and I were married for 10 years, attended the wonderful Marine reunions, and happily visited with many Marine buddies. Unfortunately, I did not know him during his military career, I knew him as “Continental Bill”, captain of a 737-300 commercial aircraft. I’m not from a military family so had no knowledge of the camaraderie shared by so many in the military nor the actual significance of the possessions lining his office walls. I listened to the stories he shared with others of times in combat, I cleaned and dusted his military awards and plaques not knowing exactly what each one represented, and, until now, I never knew just what an American hero he was. Bill was a very humble man, never bragging about his accomplishments in life, just shrugging me off when I asked questions about his awards and medals, so it has been a quite a learning experience to me over the past two weeks. He was not just an American hero, he was my hero, his children’s hero.

It brings to mind the first time Bill wore his “new” Marine uniform, my son, Chris, was graduating from Army boot camp in AL. As we approached Chris and a number of his classmates, Chris shouted “Officer approaching, Attention”.I stepped back waiting for a VIP to pass tugging on Bill’s arm for him to step back also when he said “it’s me they’re talking about dummy, continue on”…Again the significance of his of his career accomplishments didn’t register. As the years went by and social activity continued with his Marine brothers, I knew it was a special bond between those guys. Thanks to you all for those happy times.

I would like to share another story, Bill as Captain for Continental Airlines. For commercial pilots, their last flight before retirement is very special. They choose their route and have “positive space available” for family. Due to health reasons, Bill was not able to make that special flight. When we accompanied his body to Quantico on Continental Air, I carried his uniform hat in hand on a 737-300, the aircraft from which he retired. The flight crew was told of their payload and as we exited the aircraft, the Captain met me and said “I just wanted you to know that Captain Woidyla was in charge during the entire flight”. Bill made his final flight with dignity and love with his family and co-workers.

I hope to attend future reunions, meetings, etc. it you all will have me.

We will miss Bill dearly, God will have the pleasure of sharing eternity with Bill…What better way to spend eternity than to spend it with a Marine!!!

Semper Fi….
Sandy Woidyla
A Proud Marine Wife

Would you be kind enough to pass on my e-mail address to the other members. ccure922@yahoo.com.