America's Fallen Hero's

Captain William J. McVey

After graduation from the US Naval Academy in 1943, he served aboard the USS Caperton, a destroyer, in World War II Pacific campaigns against the Japanese through the Marshall and Gilbert Islands, the Carolines, Marianas and Philippines.

He received his Navy wings in 1945 and served in various fighter squadrons flying off aircraft carriers in both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. He flew 116 combat missions during the Korean action from the carriers Boxer and Kearsarge. He commanded Fighter Squadrons VF-91 and VF-124. He attended both the Naval War College and The National War College.

Captain McVey commanded the USS Sylvania while deployed and homeported in the Mediterranean in 1966 and 1967. During the Vietnam War he commanded the USS Intrepid and later served as Chief of Staff, Carrier Division Nine, aboard the USS Ranger. Captain McVey was awarded the Legion of Merit on three occasions, the Air Medal six times, the Navy Commendation Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, and several foreign awards. Additionally, Intrepid received the Navy Unit Commendation and Navy E while under his command.