Colonel William S. Gillilland, Ret.

    A memorial dedication will take place Saturday, May 8, 2010, 11 a.m. at Glenwood Cemetery for William Shirley Gillilland. On Aug. 7, 2009, graveside services with full military honors were held at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Va.

    He was born on Oct. 16, 1926, in Bladen, Neb. and passed away peacefully May 8, 2009, in Arlington.  He was the eldest of two sons of Whitney and Virginia Gillilland.  He grew up in both Glenwood and Waterloo.  From the heartland of America, Colonel Gillilland began an illustrious career in service to this nation.

    He enlisted in the U.S. Navy in January 1944, to service our nation during World War II.  Following his discharge in June 1946, Colonel Gillilland pursued his educational opportunities and served in the Army ROTC at the University of Iowa. He also joined the National Guard in Glenwood.  He had practical intensions to become a farmer although his studies focused in political science.  During Colonel Gillilland’s senior year he enrolled in George Washington University in Washington, D.C. and also worked part time as a Capitol Hill Policeman.  During the conduct of his duties there, he met an executive secretary, Ingrid Waldt, in the office of Congressman Michael A. Feighan, Ohio.  They were wed in November 1949 and began life together over a blacksmith’s shop in Glenwood.  Shortly after their wedding, the Korean War loomed large.  Colonel Gillilland volunteered for duty.  He resumed his military career at Fort Benning, Ga., as an infantry officer in July of 1950.  Before deploying to Korea, Colonel Gillilland distinguished himself as a graduate of the Ranger Course, the Mountain Training Course, and became a Master Parachutist.

    After the Korean War, Colonel Gillilland continued his 36-year career as an Army officer.  His infantry background led him into counterintelligence/human intelligence and eventually to a rewarding career as a Foreign Area Officer-China as a soldier-diplomat.  His assignments included Washington, Fort Benning, Ga., Fort Benning Harrison, Ind., Yuma Proving Grounds, Ariz. and Monterey, Calif.  He also served 21 years overseas in Japan, Korea, South Vietnam, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Pakistan, and China.  He became fluent in both Mandarin and Cantonese Chinese dialects and spoke Japanese and Urdu.  He earned his Master’s Degree in International Relations at Stanford and graduated from the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College.

    Colonel Gillilland’s awards include the Legion Merit, Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army of Occupation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Korean Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, Combat Infantry Badge and Parachutist Badge.

    Following his retirement from the Army in September 1980, Colonel Gillilland continued his association with the intelligence community, worked in private industry, and enjoyed leisure times on the golf course at the Army-Navy Country Club, keeping in touch with long-time and new friends working elections polls.

     Colonel Gillilland is survived by his wife of 59 years, Ingrid Waldt; his daughter Sarah Jane Billington of Gainesville, Va.; his younger brother Thomas of Willsboro, N.Y.; a granddaughter, Amanda Billington; a grandson, Whitney Billington; and a great-grandson, Alexander.

    Hertz Funeral Home of Glenwood is in charge of local arrangements.