William Dennis Pinegar was born October 19, 1940 to the parents of Mr. and Mrs. Pinegar at St. Catherine's hospital in McCook, Nebraska. Pinegar had one brother James who was born in 1938. Growing up Pinegar lived at 828 S. 21st Street with his family. He was raised catholic.
His sister-in-law Barbara Olson, who is the only living relative of Pinegar, recalls him as a very quiet simple person. Pinegar attended St. Peter's grade school throughout k-8th grade and graduated May 29, 1955. According to report cards during his time at St. Peters Pinegar received mediocre grades, and didn't excell especially in academics. After Pinegar's time at St. Peter's Pinegar attended Central High School. Although Pinegar's brother James attended Creighton Prep High School Pinegar chose public school, why the reason is unknown.
Bill Pinegar's life at Central isn't one to boast about. He attended Central from the fall of 1955 to the spring of 1959 and graduated in the class of 1959. There was no report card on file for Pinegar but sccording to Mrs. Barbara Olson in high school Pinegar also received average grades. According to the 1959 yearbook the only activity Pinegar was involved in at school was the JROTC program from 9th-12th grade. He had one esepecially close friend, Lennard Schwenneker who graduated from Central class of 1960, but not further research could be found on Pinegar's high school friend.
Sometime in high school, the exact year is unknown Pinegar and his family relocated from the house on S. 21st Street to 3510 Valley Street, where Pinegar would reside until his death in 1965. After high school Pinegar did not attend any Universities or colleges. He worked at the Pepsi Cola factory on 72nd and L with his brother James and lived with his parents after school and even though Pinegar was involved in the JROTC program in high school Pinegar expressed no real interest in joining the armed forces even as the Vietnam War grew increasingly bloody throughout the 1960's.
According to Mrs. Barbara Olson Pinegar grew up to be a very simple quiet man. He really enjoyed fishing and hunting with his brother James and father Harold. "He could fish for hours," she said. Before his death Pinegar had no girlfriends or had any romantic ties with any women. "He never even had his driver's license," recalls Mrs. Olson.
However on September 19th, 1963 Pinegar's simplistic life of fishing, hunting, and working at Pepsi Cola was abruptly halted when Pinegar received his draft letter, and was to report for induction of the armed forces on October 21st, 1963, three days after Pinegar's 23rd birthday.
Pinegar was enlisted in to the First Calvary Division, 5th Calvary, 2nd Battalion, B company, and was now called Private Pinegar, instead of what his friends and family called him, Billy.
According to Pinegar's record of military service he was at Fort. Leonard Wood, Missouri from October 21st, 1963 to January 9th,1964. At Leonard Wood, a massive traning base that trains thousands of men, Pinegar received basic training. From January 10th, 1964 to July 1st, 1965 Pinegar was located at Fort Carson Colorado base. Although during this time there was a great flood in June and July Pinegar continued his traning here. In a letter to his parents dated from June 1965 Pinegar writes about not doing much and throwing sand bags around at Fort Carson. From July 2, 1965 to August 15th, 1965 Pinegar relocated to Fort Benning Georgia, where Pinegar prepared for his upcoming tour in South Vietnam. From August 15th, 1965 to September 11th, 1965 Pinegar was enroute to Vietnam. Pinegar wrote the letter enclosed on August 19th, 1965 during his time on the ship, a month and a half before his death.
The last line is especially heart wrenching. "Mom don't worry," he simply writes. Pinegar had absolutely no inclination of his very near death. From the 12th of September until his death Pinegar on October 6th, 1965 (almost two weeks before his 25th birthday) was located in a small province in Southern Vietnam. A letter sent shortly after his death to Pinegar's paretns from William A. Davies, the Captain of Infantry Commanding, describes the events surrounding Pinegar's death. Pinegar was located near a first calvary division base near An Khe, South Vietnam. In the early morning Pinegar was manning a defensive position with the rest of his unit. While Pinegar was preparing to go on guard for this postion he was killed immediately by hostile small arms fire.
On October 12th after Pinegar's body had been recovered Pinegar was sent back home to Omaha to John A. Gentlemen Mortuaries. Pinegar was buried at Calvary Cemetary on 80th and center. According to his sister-in-law Pinegar was due for release on his birthday October 19th. Pinegar did come home, but instead of throwing a birthday party for him his parents, friends, family had to bury him.
William Pinegar's life had just began to blossom, death was the furthest thing from his mind. Pinegar was still living at home, he never even had a girlfriend. His life was just beginning when it was taken from him. However, Pinegar did do something extraordinary. After a quiet simple life Pinegar died fighting. In a letter sent to the Pinegar family after William's death Cal Curtis from the United States Senate offers his condolences. He writes, "I can only commend you to Him who was taught us all that death does not end all." The words never seemed more true. Death does not end all, and in some way Pinegar's name lives on.
Pinegar has two memorials one located at Central High School, and another at Memorial Park. After his death Pinegar was awarded the Sharp shooter badge, the Military Merit Medal, the Purple Heart, The Vietnam Service Medal, a Gold Star Citation and Gallantry Cross with Palm.
Although Pinegar's brother and parents all passed away in the 90's Pinegar is still remembered by his sister-in-law. After Pinegar's death in 1965 Barbara and her late husband James named their third soon after William. William Pinegar Jr., and so his name lives on. May William Dennis Pinegar rest in peace.