William T. Gorman – Corporal, United States Marine Corp

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Courtesy of Dorothy Patten Kelly

The Boston Record, May 22, 1959:

“Fate Sounds Taps on Boston Youth's Dreams”

“Bill Gorman, Jr. of Mattapan had two boyhood ambitions – to join the Marines and then after a long career rest with the heroes of the Halls of Montezuma and the Shores of Tripoli in Arlington National Cemetery.

Young Gorman happily realized the first ambition – he became a Marine two years ago.

Yesterday Fate sounded Taps for the 21-year-old corporal. He and another Marine airman were killed then their helicopter crashed shortly after take-off from the Marine Air Facility” (El Toro) “at Santa Ana, California.

Arrangements were being made yesterday to bury him in the National Cemetery with military honors.

Bill was graduated from Boston Latin School in 1956.  He was the Brigadier General of the school's prize winning cadets and captain of the drill team.  He was planning a summer leave when death struck.”

P.S.  We were planning to marry during that June when he returned on leave.  I was then Dorothy Patten. I saw him laid to rest at Arlington on May 27, 1959. His site is Section 33, Number 1011

His grave marker reads:

William T. Gorman
Massachusetts
Cpl
United States Marine Corps
March 8, 1938
May 20, 1959

He was killed on duty in a routine helicopter flight at El Toro, California.
Dorothy Patten Kelly

GORMAN, WILLIAM THOMAS

  • CPL USMC
  • DATE OF BIRTH: 03/08/1938
  • DATE OF DEATH: 05/20/1959
  • BURIED AT: SECTION 33  SITE 1011
    ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY

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