William Martin “Bill” Breit was born in San Antonio, TX on Armistice Day, November 11, 1937, to John M. and Nancy B. Breit. Bill would be their only child. John was an Army lieutenant who had graduated from West Point in 1933. The family moved to the Philippines in 1939 and were evacuated when the Japanese threatened the islands. While John served in the war, Nancy and Bill lived in San Antonio with her father Major General Beaumont B. Buck (Retired), USMA Class of 1885.
The Breit family moved several times after the war, finally settling in Falls Church, VA. Bill seemed destined to attend West Point when, at age 12, he saw his first Army football game. He graduated from George Mason High School in 1955. At George Mason, Bill lettered in football and basketball and attended Virginia Boys State in 1954. After high school he graduated from the West Point Prep School and joined the Class of 1960.
Bill’s years at the Academy were fairly routine, except for academic problems, especially thermodynamics during Second Class year. He was on the Swimming Team as a plebe and was a mainstay on the A-l intermural football team, which won the Brigade Championship in 1958. Bill chose the Air Force upon graduation.
For four years Bill dated Sue Williams, the daughter of a Navy captain and 1936 Naval Academy graduate. Ten days after graduation Sue and Bill were married in the Fort Myer, VA chapel. After summer leave the newlyweds drove to their first station at Fairchild AFB near Spokane, WA. Bill was one of the new officers assigned to the 567th Strategic Missile Squadron, which deployed nine Atlas “E” intercontinental ballistic missiles in 1961. The Breit Family became three that year when son Scott was born. John followed in 1963 and the family was complete.
As the second officer of a five-man crew Bill concentrated on learning the complex missile and support equipment systems and became a standardization crew member that tested other crews. Duty with the missile squadron lasted until 1965 when Bill was ordered to Offutt AFB, NE and the 4000th Support Group. This unit tracked satellites for the Air Force.
In 1966 the Vietnam War was increasing in intensity and Bill’s Army classmates were completing combat tours there. Bill wanted to contribute to that war and made the decision to transfer back to the Army. In December 1966 he was sworn into the Artillery branch and assigned to the career course at Fort Sill, OK. After graduation Bill was ordered to Fort Benning, GA as a battery commander in the 7-18th Field Artillery Regiment. He received orders in 1968 to the Military Assistance Command Vietnam as senior advisor to the 3rd Battalion, 48th Infantry Regiment. Bill spent six months with the battalion fighting in the swamps of the Rung Sat Special Zone as well as in jungles and rubber plantations. After his battalion tour he served at the ARVN 18th Division Headquarters in Xuan Loc as assistant G-3 advisor.
With the Vietnam tour complete Bill was ordered to the 6-82nd Field Artillery Regiment at Fort Bragg, NC as executive officer. Command and General Staff College was next followed by four years in the Pentagon in DCSOPS. Bill was then transferred to Korea as S-3 of the 4th Missile Command. He was promoted to lieutenant colonel and for several months commanded the 3rd Battalion, 81st Field Artillery Regiment, the last sergeant battalion in die Army. Bill next joined the 1st Cavalry Division at Fort Hood, TX as G-4 and commander of the 1-21st Field Artillery Regiment. He closed out his career with III Corps Headquarters retiring in 1979. After retirement Bill became an agent with USPA and the IRA.
During this time Bill’s sons were graduating from high school. His youngest son, John, captained the football team at Killeen High School and was recruited to play at Baylor University. He lettered four years at linebacker and graduated with a business degree. He married in 1997. Bill’s oldest son, Scott, graduated from Texas A&M and joined the Air Force as a meteorologist. He married in 1994.
After serving as an agent Bill was called to the home office in Fort Worth to be the director of personnel and administration. As the company grew Bills responsibilities increased and he was appointed vice president and director. He retired in 2001. After retirement Bill and Sue moved to Colorado and Virginia and finally to Texas.
Sue was stricken with multiple sclerosis in the 1970s, and, while it had become worse as the years passed, she always had a smile on her face. During these years Bill and Sue enjoyed keeping up with Scott and John’s families, which produced five grandchildren.
Bill incurred several medical problems, including multiple myeloma. He was inurned at the Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, where his father, mother, grandfather, and grandmother were buried. He is survived by his wife, Sue; son Scott and his wife, Jackie, and their children: Cassie, Kayla, and Conner, of College Station, TX; and son John and his wife, Lori, and their daughters, Samantha and Carolyn Paige, of Downers Grove, IL.
Bill was a good family man and loved his wife Sue deeply. Bill was involved with the Episcopal church and served on the vestry of two churches. He and Sue enjoyed their dogs, especially golden retrievers Honey and Sandy. Sue’s brothers Bob, Bill, Rick and Jack were great friends to Bill, and they spent many happy hours together. Well Done; Be Thou at Peace.