Name: William “Bill GTO” Nawrot

Service Branch: United States Army

Years of Service: 1968-1970

Rank: Spec 4

Member: 132nd Assault Support Helicopter Co

Battle Region/War: Chu Lai, Vietnam

Awards: National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Vietnam Service Medal

The Western Springs Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 10778 announces the Grand Marshal and date for the Western Springs Memorial Day Parade on Monday, May 25, 2026. Bill Nawrot will serve as the parade’s Grand Marshal.

Parade Grand Marshal

Located in Vietnam’s Quảng Nam Province, Chu Lai was a United States Marine Corps military base, operational from 1965 to 1970, which included an airfield to support military operations during the Vietnam War.

Joining the service ranks in Aug of 1968, Bill enlisted in the Army on his 19th birthday. He was assigned to the Flight Line in Chu Lai, Vietnam, from Feb 1969 to April 1970, as part of a 5-man mechanics crew. Bill was charged with major and minor maintenance repairs, for 12 CH-47 Chinook helicopters completing a scheduled rotation for parts replacement every 100 hrs. Sporadically, the Flight Line was under mortar fire from the Vietnamese forces.

On Apr 1970, Bill was discharged from Army Service. Bill returned to Illinois to his previous job at Illinois Bell Telephone. He worked at Bell Telephone for 27 years as an outside communications technician. After Bell Telephone, Bill began a second career at MCI/Verizon where he worked for 12 years until retirement in 2010.

Bill was part of the “Operation Support The Troops America” in Naperville, IL. Since joining the Western Springs VFW in 2014, Bill has worked with the Memorial Day Parade Committee where he creates the 4-page parade program, and coordinates the vehicles where veterans ride during the parade.

Bill is married to Patti, and they are parents to 4 children, 12 grandchildren, and one great-granddaughter. Bill and Patti are avid classic car collectors with 2 Pontiac GTO, a Lincoln Town Car, and 2 Mustangs.

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