Killed in the line of duty during a training mission aboard "SUMO 41", Marine Corps KC-130J QD 167981 while serving with VMGR-152, MAG-12, 1ST MAW, MCAS Iwakuni, Japan.
His remains were unable to be located in the Sea of Japan after the crash.
William's cenotaph is located in Middle Tennessee State Veterans Cemetery, Nashville, Tennessee.