C. William Zadel

West Point, 1965

Be Thou At Peace

Posted by George A.Jonic, Jr. on September 14, 2011:

Although I didn't know Bill when he played football and I played basketball with the Quantico Marines after Basic School in 1965 we did meet shortly after that season. We both received orders to the 2nd Marine Division at Camp Lejeune, NC. Bill and I were both young lieutenants in 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment deployed to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba as the perimeter defense battalion. Bill lead a very successful Battalion flag football team (as coach and quarterback) and defeated all Gitmo based Navy teams. In the 1965 Thanksgiving Day game against the rival Marine Base team Bill secured an outstanding fitness report by winning the game --Final Score 7-6. Bill also played forward on the Battalion basketball team that I coached which had similar success on the court. I have fond memories of our 6 month tour together. We both received our orders to Vietnam shortly before leaving Gitmo. Bill was the one who found me almost 40 years later and introduced me to the Quantico Marine Athletes organization whose members meet at annual reunions throughout the country. Bill was an outstanding Marine, very successful business executive and good friend. He will be missed by all who knew him. Rest in Peace Bill --Semper Fidelis George A.Jonic, Jr Colonel, USMCR Quantico Marine Basketball-1965 Iona College, Class of 1964

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