Posted by Chuck Cavin on January 30, 2001:

I think most people from F1 remember Willie as Darth Vader, as that was the name he gave himself. He loved to pretend (for our benefit) that he was wearing the famous black helmet, making that mechanical breathing sound. I remember Willie as a decent, salt of the earth guy. He sent a significant portion of our meager earnings to his home in the South. While many of us dreamed and talked about our upcoming leaves, Willie stayed on post almost all the time, even as a firstie. While I never really understood Willie, I had tremendous respect for his sense of family, his gentle nature, and his boyish humor. He was intensely serious about his duties as a cadet, but managed to convey a sense of ease that I never felt and could scarcely fake. To me, Willie Childs was a mischievous Southern Gentleman. F1 and Proud, Willie.

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