Dragons Veteran Salute Program Presented by CareSource Military & Veterans™ to Honor Sergeant William Webster Jr. on August 11

DAYTON, Ohio -- CareSource Military & Veterans™ and the Dayton Dragons will host United States Army veteran William Webster Jr. during the Veteran Salute Program presented by CareSource Military & Veterans™ on Sunday, August 11 at 1:05 pm when the Dragons take on the Lake County Captains at Day Air Ballpark in the heart of the Water Street District. Sunday will be the fourth Veteran Salute of the 2024 season.

The Dragons Veteran Salute Program presented by CareSource Military & Veterans™ provides veterans in the Dayton region with a once-in-a-lifetime experience to celebrate their service. Each honoree has their story shared in front of the crowd at Day Air Ballpark, followed by a standing ovation in appreciation of the veteran's hard work and dedication both in military and civilian accomplishments.

Sergeant William Webster Jr.’s Story

Sergeant William Webster Jr. was born and raised in Dayton. He joined the Reserves while in high school and was drafted into the United States Army in 1967. Webster served in the Army from 1967 until 1972.

Sergeant Webster attended basic training while a reservist in 1963 at Fort Knox in Kentucky. In 1967, Webster was drafted and sent to Fort Jackson in South Carolina. He was then deployed to Vietnam. After his first tour in Vietnam was complete, Webster was stationed at Fort Bragg in North Carolina. In 1969, he was deployed for a second tour in Vietnam.

Sergeant Webster was serving with headquarters and headquarters company, 11^th Infantry Brigade near the city of Mo Duc, Vietnam. On May 13, 1970, a friendly helicopter crashed into enemy territory, seriously injuring all crew members. Webster saw no Americans surrounding his teammates. He was not going to walk away without helping. Webster headed straight for the burning helicopter to rescue crew members. There were smoking rocket pods on the side of the helicopter that could explode at any moment. Webster recalls he didn’t even think about his own safety, knowing if he was inside the burning helicopter, he would want someone to help him.

That’s exactly what Webster did. After ripping the cockpit doors off, Webster evacuated the pilot and co-pilot. Despite the continued danger, he once again made his way towards the helicopter and was able to successfully evacuate another two crewmen from the aircraft. Webster refused to leave the wreckage until he was assured all comrades had been evacuated. Because of his immediate assistance, bravery, and heroism, Webster helped save the lives of his fellow soldiers.

After returning from his second tour in Vietnam, Webster was stationed at Fort Polk in Louisiana, where he worked as an Assistant Drill Sergeant. In 1972, Webster finished his Army career at the rank of Sergeant.

Sergeant Webster received many awards throughout his career, including a very notable one. In May of 2024, Webster was inducted into the Ohio Military Hall of Fame. He received a Bronze Star with V for heroism in connection with ground operations against a hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam. This award is the fourth highest military decoration for valor in the United States Army.

Today, Sergeant Webster is an active member of VFW Post 518 and American Post Legion 776. He is a semi-retired charter bus driver and is now able to “sit back and enjoy life.”

To nominate a veteran in your life for the Veteran Salute Program presented by CareSource Military & Veterans™, visit *www.daytondragons.com/veteransalute.*