French Jr., William, SO3

Bill French was stationed at Seal Team 5 and training in Golf platoon at the time of his death.  He was traveling home from a wedding with three fellow teammates from Seal Team 5 and were involved in a high speed collision at the intersection of Via De La Valle in Del Mar, California.  Bill and fellow Seal Team 5 teammate Stan Fant were killed instantly.
Bill is always remembered in our platoon as being generous and likable.  He loved being a Seal and would've probably made a career out of it.  He worked hard and was a good operator.  He was an outstanding runner and swimmer and had an easy going attitude.  The charisma and character that he brought to us in Golf platoon could never be equaled.  It was a great loss for all of us.

Golf platoon 1993.  I remember we locked out of a submarine off the coast of San Clemente Island, landed and spent almost 16 hours looking for this target that seemed to not exist.  We finally found it and high-tailed it to the LZ. The choppers picked us up and off we went.  We were all beat, dirty, thirsty, hungry, sore, some with minor injuries.  We were in flight back to the mainland, it was probably four in the morning because there was only that twilight visual across the ocean.  Bill French smiled and gave me a couple pats on the knee just for good measure.  We all fell asleep.  That was the last exchange I had with Bill.  He was killed the next night.  Godspeed my friend.