LTC William Randolph “Salty” Watkins III

LTC William Randolph “Salty” Watkins III Veteran

Birth
Death
7 Apr 2003
Burial
Arlington, Arlington County, Virginia, USA
Plot
Section 60, Site 7896
Memorial ID
8545433 View Source
Killed In Action in Iraq. Major, U.S. Air Force, F-15E Strike Eagle Weapons Systems Officer stationed with the 333rd Fighter Squadron, 4th Fighter Wing, Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, Goldsboro, North Carolina (deployed to Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom). Also killed was Capt Eric Das, the Pilot of the F-15E (tail #88-1694). Capt Das also has a memorial dedicated to him on this site. Please remember these brave men and the freedoms that have provided for us.

NOTE: Some of the officer's remains were recovered later (along with the pilot's) a not-uncommon occurrence when a supersonic jet crashes in a combat zone. The families decided to have the newly found remains buried at Arlington. In a joint burial, the remains of Lieutenant Colonel William R. "Salty" Watkins III (promoted posthumously) and Captain Eric B. "Boot" Das (1972-2003) were laid to rest in a single casket, in a single grave. Burial Date was 28 Aug 2003. He is indeed buried in two places, three if you count the crash site in Iraq.

The original burial date was 3 May 2003; see Find a Grave Memorial #11052897.

5th Great Grandfather - Col Samuel Woodson Venable (1756-1821) who served in Capt Thomas Watkins dragoons in Revolutionary War.
Killed In Action in Iraq. Major, U.S. Air Force, F-15E Strike Eagle Weapons Systems Officer stationed with the 333rd Fighter Squadron, 4th Fighter Wing, Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, Goldsboro, North Carolina (deployed to Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom). Also killed was Capt Eric Das, the Pilot of the F-15E (tail #88-1694). Capt Das also has a memorial dedicated to him on this site. Please remember these brave men and the freedoms that have provided for us.

NOTE: Some of the officer's remains were recovered later (along with the pilot's) a not-uncommon occurrence when a supersonic jet crashes in a combat zone. The families decided to have the newly found remains buried at Arlington. In a joint burial, the remains of Lieutenant Colonel William R. "Salty" Watkins III (promoted posthumously) and Captain Eric B. "Boot" Das (1972-2003) were laid to rest in a single casket, in a single grave. Burial Date was 28 Aug 2003. He is indeed buried in two places, three if you count the crash site in Iraq.

The original burial date was 3 May 2003; see Find a Grave Memorial #11052897.

5th Great Grandfather - Col Samuel Woodson Venable (1756-1821) who served in Capt Thomas Watkins dragoons in Revolutionary War.


  • Maintained by: Mary Melissa Newlon Watkins
  • Originally Created by: John from California
  • Added: 
  • Find a Grave Memorial ID: 8545433
  • Amber Palermo
  • Find a Grave, database and images (: accessed ), memorial page for LTC William Randolph “Salty” Watkins III (17 Dec 1965–7 Apr 2003), Find a Grave Memorial ID 8545433, citing Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Arlington County, Virginia, USA; Maintained by Mary Melissa Newlon Watkins (contributor 47995404).