Brian Robert Bill

US Navy SEAL, Beloved Son And Brother

Chief Petty Officer Brian Robert Bill, 31, of Virginia Beach, Va., was killed in action, August 6, in Wardak province, eastern Afghanistan. Born August 23, 1979, in Stamford, he was the son of and Patricia and Dr Michael Parry of Stamford, and Scott Bill of Sarasota, Fla.

Chief Special Warfare Operator Bill was an Eagle Scout, graduated from Trinity Catholic High School, Stamford, and Norwich University, Norwich, Vt., with a bachelor of science in electrical engineering.

In June 2001, he enlisted in the United States Navy to pursue his lifelong dream of becoming a US Navy SEAL. After basic training in Great Lakes, Ill., he attended Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) training in Coronado, Calif. In 2003 he was designated as a SEAL and assigned to an east coast SEAL Team based in Virginia Beach.

Chief Petty Officer Bill was a skilled fly-fisherman, skier, and skydiver. He was an accomplished mountaineer with successful summits of Aconcagua in Argentina and Mount Elbrus in Russia. He had completed several marathons and obtained his commercial pilot’s license. He independently studied Russian and became fluent in French. His personal awards included three Bronze Stars with Valor, Joint Service Commendation Medal with Valor, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, two Combat Action Ribbons, and three Good Conduct Medals.

In addition to his parents, he is survived by his grandmother Betty Hardiman; brother Christian Bill; four sisters: Amy Kutney, and her husband Chad, and daughter Ryder, Andrea Sholes, and her husband Christopher and daughter Kyra, Kerry Welch, and Tessa Bill; brother Morgan Bill; aunt Anne Goebel, and her husband James; aunt Sharon Davis; uncle Thomas Davis, and his wife Joanne; Aunt Maureen Corcoran; aunt Mary Sikes, and her husband John; uncle Jeffrey Davis; 12 cousins; great-uncles, Monsignor William Nagle, and Dr and Mrs John Nagle, and their five children and families.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Saint Cecilia Church, 1184 Newfield Avenue, Stamford, with funeral arrangements to be announced.

Leo P. Gallagher & Sons Funeral Home will handle the arrangements. Interment will be at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Va.

Donations may be made to Navy SEAL Foundation at nswfoundation.org.

To leave an online condolence visit www.leopgallagherstamford.com.

The Newtown Bee        August 12, 2011