William Downey served in Vietnam in 1968-69. He was a member of the Purple Foxes. Bill's best friend, Corpsman
Richard Marc Lubin, died as a casualty of war on 1/26/1969.
The night of the crash, Richard asked Bill if he could have his flight hours as he was low on them. Bill was
happy to oblige, not knowing what the fateful flight would entail. Within minutes Richard Lubin and all crew
were dead. The helicopter they were traveling in hit a mountain, and everyone perished.
Not a day goes by that my husband has not thought of Richard and how both of their lives changed that day. Bill
has gone on to have a successful career in Family Practice as Physician Assistant and to marry and have two
daughters and three beautiful grandchildren.
He has suffered PTSD ever since the crash; however, he hid it well for over 50+ years choosing to run in
Marathons and Triathlons as his form of release. He has recently been chosen to fly to Washington D.C. with
Syracuse Honor Flight. That takes place on Sept. 28.
Welcomed back to the Foxes Den, Bill.
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