Brother’s death fueled vet William Helsel’s Air Force service
Trending
AUSTINTOWN -- If you were to ask William Helsel to describe his time in the Air Force, he would say it was "very enjoyable."
Helsel explained that he initially joined the Air Force because he wanted to see the world and learn a trade. But the start of the Vietnam War and death of his brother, Paul, changed things.
"I was at Tyndall Air Force Base. I came home, went to the funeral and was on leave. As soon as I got back on base, I got orders to go to Japan," Helsel said. "In Japan, I spent two years and took five trips to Vietnam in a total of 180 days. I wanted to go to Germany, and I got Japan."
Paul Helsel was killed in a grenade accident while serving in the Army in Vietnam.
William Helsel's wife, Janet, explained that Helsel's mother called their congressman and asked that he not be sent overseas. But he had a younger brother, Tommy, who was 11 at the time, so he had to go overseas, but didn't have to go to Vietnam.
But Helsel volunteered anyway.
"I volunteered to go to Vietnam, mostly because we had a lot of inexperienced people at the base," he said. "And I had worked in a test cell where we tested the engines and I knew more about replacing parts and we would send a plane down every month with the maintenance crew. Then it would come back and another plane would come down and replace it. Planes would make 12 stops in a day."
For Helsel, training in the Air Force was easy, as he was always mechanically inclined. However, the hardest time he had was hearing the news about his brother's death, as it hit him heavily.
"They sent a person over to tell me to go to the orderly room. And I knew it was bad, so all the way over there, I thought it was my grandmother, who was old. And it shocked the hell out of me, it really did," Helsel said. "And before I got back to the barracks, everybody knew. Everybody on the base knew. It was very hard. I got up the next morning, got my leave, and came home."
He added that the news was much worse for his mother, as all she received was a note from a taxi driver about it.
Helsel said that Paul was motivated to join the Army because of their father, who served in World War II. Paul had served several years already and was due to get out that June.
"He probably would have reenlisted," Helsel said. "I know my brother."
Helsel said that if he didn't get married, he would have probably stayed in the Air Force for 20 years.
"I enjoyed my time, but I felt it was time to get out and start my life here."
After serving in the Air Force, Helsel worked as an engineer and manager for AT&T for 30 years.
Nowadays, Helsel hasn't been able to do much, as a run-in with COVID-19 in 2021 has had long-term effects on him. However, he still serves as a trustee for Mill Creek Junior Baseball League, which he served as the president of for 23 years.
William Helsel
AGE: 77
RESIDENCE: Austintown
SERVICE BRANCH: Air Force
MILITARY HONORS: Good Conduct medal, National Defense medal, two bronze service stars
OCCUPATION: Engineer, manager at AT&T for 30 years
FAMILY: Wife, Janet; children, Tricia and Donna; three grandchildren