Bridge named after Green Beret killed in Vietnam

BERLIN, Pa. – William Will spent a lot of time in the New Baltimore, Somerset County region visiting family, hunting and fishing during his short life.

He even intended to retire there.

But that never came to be.

Will, an Allegheny County native, died July 5, 1966, at age 24, due to hostile action when serving in the Army's Green Berets during the Vietnam War.

His sacrifice was remembered Thursday when the state Route 1015 bridge that goes over the Raystown Branch of the Juniata River in Allegheny Township was formally dedicated as the Staff Sergeant William Will Memorial Bridge.

"I think it's wonderful," said his sister, Joyce Will Hutchinson, from Uniontown, following the ceremony at the New Baltimore Volunteer Fire Department building.

"My grandparents lived here and a lot of my uncles. We would come here in the summers and play, and stay, and fish and whatever. I was real pleased that they (named the bridge for him). ... He was wonderful. He really was. He was a good guy. He liked the military. He liked being in the service."

His first cousin, Pat Will, called the naming a "wonderful" and "beautiful" tribute.

State Rep. Carl Walker Metzgar, R-Somerset, and state Sen. Pat Stefano, R-Fayette, praised Will for the contributions he made.

"We lost someone, someone local, and someone very special when we lost William," Metzgar said.

"That sends ripples through time. And those ripples, they matter that he lives on through us."

Stefano added: "This is so we can remember the sacrifices that were made. That the sacrifices made for us were not in vain."

Somerset County Commissioner Brian Fochtman said Will's connection to the borough is "just another reason for me to be proud to be from New Baltimore."