By PHOEBE DONALD ROBINSON / Community Columnist

“Volunteering runs in my blood,” said Navy Vietnam veteran William E. “Bill” Spies II of Vincent. “My family has fought for freedom for the USA from the landing of Jamestown in 1608 till current times. My 10^th great-grandfather fought in the Continental Army during the American Revolution and was KIA at the Battle of Cowpens in 1780.

“His son, my ninth great-grandfather, fought at the Battle of Fort McHenry during the War of 1812.”

Spies said his many great uncles fought with the Union Army in the Civil War with the 117^th Pennsylvania Volunteers.

“A great cousin was a corporal in the U.S. Marines and fought in seven battles to save the westerners in Peking during the Boxer Rebellion in 1900,” he said. “Two uncles fought in the Rainbow Division in France during WWI. Three uncles and my brother-in-law fought in WWII in Europe and the Pacific.”

Spies said his father’s brother was KIA in Italy in 1944.

“My cousin Jim Spies, son of the uncle that was killed in WWII, fought in the Vietnam War on the USS America,” he said. “My father-in-law, Jim Bunn, was KIA in Vietnam and my mother-in-law, Rachel Bunn Clinkscale, is past national president of Gold Star Wives. I fought in the Vietnam and Cold wars. In each case we ‘volunteered’ for the good of others and for our family.”

Chief Petty Officer Spies (OSC E-7) served in the U.S. Navy and U.S. Naval Reserves from 1966-1978 on the following ships: USS Raleigh APD1; USS Steinaker DD863; USS Biddle CG34; and USS Blandly DD943.

Among his many awards are: Combat Action Ribbon, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Republic of Vietnam Meritorious Unit Citation – Gallantry Cross with Palm, Vietnam Service Medal and more from the following battles: Phan Thiet supporting the 101^st Airborne; Hue supporting the 3^rd Marines; carrier operations with Dixie and Yankee stations; Operation Sea Dragon; Battle of Tigre Island above Dong Ha -1 CTZ; and more.

After his naval career, Spies worked till retirement as a senior level manager in the telecom industry where he was awarded COM NET’s “Strategic User of Telecommunications 1^st Trophy” by Vice President Al Gore.

Today he volunteers with the Blue Star Salute, National Veteran Shrine at American Village, Habitat for Humanity, American Legion Post 195, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4758 (post chaplain, 2015); Tennessee for ATT VETS Group (president SE region 2008-2009) and is a life member of Telecommunications Pioneers Group.

“My military experience gave me the foundation of organizational skills, a sense of belonging to principles and a keen interest in learning new things,” said Spies. “I also learned to be aware of all things so you do not pay a final price for being complacent.”