William H. Plackett
Encyclopedia
William H. Plackett grew up in Paxton, Illinois
, and enlisted in the United States Navy
on October 18, 1956. After graduation from recruit training, he attended radioman "A" school in Norfolk, Virginia
.
His first duty station was with the Naval Control of Shipping Office on Bahrain
in the Persian Gulf
and earned promotion to Petty Officer Third Class. He transferred to the staff of Commander, Amphibious Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet
, embarked in USS Mount McKinley (LCC-7) in August 1959. Following that tour, he went back to the schoolhouse for Radioman "B" school and was assigned to Representative, Commander East Force/Naval Control of Shipping Office. He was there during the Six-Day War
. In September 1967, just 11 years after joining the Navy, he was selected as a Chief Petty Officer
. Upon completion of a tour aboard USS Forrestal (CV-59), which included an extended ten-month deployment in the Mediterranean Sea
, he served as an instructor at Radioman "B" school in Bainbridge, Maryland.
Master Chief Plackett was selected for the Associates Degree Completion Program in April 1971 and was advanced to Senior Chief
while attending classes at Pensacola Junior College. He graduated with honors in December 1972 and was awarded an academic scholarship at the University of West Florida
. He graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science
degree in vocational education one year later.
Following a second tour on the Forrestal and his selection as Master Chief Petty Officer
, he assumed duties as Director of Communications School, Fleet Training Center, Norfolk, Virginia. In 1979, he was named Command Master Chief for Commander, Training Command, U.S. Atlantic Fleet
Headquarters and subsequently was selected as the first Force Master Chief of the Atlantic Fleet Training Command in July 1981. In July 1982, Master Chief Plackett was selected as Fleet Master Chief, Commander in Chief U.S. Atlantic Fleet where he served until his selection in July 1985 as the sixth Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy.
His personal decorations include the Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist
badge, the Navy Distinguished Service Medal
, Legion of Merit
, Meritorious Service Medal
, Navy Achievement Medal and several unit awards.
Paxton, Illinois
Paxton is a city in Ford County, Illinois, United States. The population was 4,473 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Ford County.-History:...
, and enlisted in the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
on October 18, 1956. After graduation from recruit training, he attended radioman "A" school in Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. With a population of 242,803 as of the 2010 Census, it is Virginia's second-largest city behind neighboring Virginia Beach....
.
His first duty station was with the Naval Control of Shipping Office on Bahrain
Bahrain
' , officially the Kingdom of Bahrain , is a small island state near the western shores of the Persian Gulf. It is ruled by the Al Khalifa royal family. The population in 2010 stood at 1,214,705, including 235,108 non-nationals. Formerly an emirate, Bahrain was declared a kingdom in 2002.Bahrain is...
in the Persian Gulf
Persian Gulf
The Persian Gulf, in Southwest Asia, is an extension of the Indian Ocean located between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula.The Persian Gulf was the focus of the 1980–1988 Iran-Iraq War, in which each side attacked the other's oil tankers...
and earned promotion to Petty Officer Third Class. He transferred to the staff of Commander, Amphibious Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet
U.S. Atlantic Fleet
The United States Fleet Forces Command is an Atlantic Ocean theater-level component command of the United States Navy that provides naval resources that are under the operational control of the United States Northern Command...
, embarked in USS Mount McKinley (LCC-7) in August 1959. Following that tour, he went back to the schoolhouse for Radioman "B" school and was assigned to Representative, Commander East Force/Naval Control of Shipping Office. He was there during the Six-Day War
Six-Day War
The Six-Day War , also known as the June War, 1967 Arab-Israeli War, or Third Arab-Israeli War, was fought between June 5 and 10, 1967, by Israel and the neighboring states of Egypt , Jordan, and Syria...
. In September 1967, just 11 years after joining the Navy, he was selected as a Chief Petty Officer
Chief Petty Officer
A chief petty officer is a senior non-commissioned officer in many navies and coast guards.-Canada:"Chief Petty Officer" refers to two ranks in the Canadian Navy...
. Upon completion of a tour aboard USS Forrestal (CV-59), which included an extended ten-month deployment in the Mediterranean Sea
Mediterranean Sea
The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean surrounded by the Mediterranean region and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Anatolia and Europe, on the south by North Africa, and on the east by the Levant...
, he served as an instructor at Radioman "B" school in Bainbridge, Maryland.
Master Chief Plackett was selected for the Associates Degree Completion Program in April 1971 and was advanced to Senior Chief
Senior Chief Petty Officer
U.S. Coast GuardSenior ChiefPetty Officercollar deviceU.S. Coast GuardSenior ChiefPetty OfficerinsigniaGood conductvariationSenior ChiefPetty OfficerinsigniaSenior ChiefPetty Officercollar device...
while attending classes at Pensacola Junior College. He graduated with honors in December 1972 and was awarded an academic scholarship at the University of West Florida
University of West Florida
The University of West Florida, also known as West Florida and UWF, is a mid-sized public university located in Pensacola, Florida, United States. UWF is a member institution of the State University System of Florida. The University of West Florida is a Research University, which specializes in...
. He graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
degree in vocational education one year later.
Following a second tour on the Forrestal and his selection as Master Chief Petty Officer
Master Chief Petty Officer
- Master Chief Petty Officer :U.S. Coast GuardMaster ChiefPetty OfficerCap & Collar deviceU.S. Coast GuardMaster ChiefPetty OfficerinsigniaGood conductRating badgeMaster ChiefPetty OfficerCap & Collar Insignia...
, he assumed duties as Director of Communications School, Fleet Training Center, Norfolk, Virginia. In 1979, he was named Command Master Chief for Commander, Training Command, U.S. Atlantic Fleet
U.S. Atlantic Fleet
The United States Fleet Forces Command is an Atlantic Ocean theater-level component command of the United States Navy that provides naval resources that are under the operational control of the United States Northern Command...
Headquarters and subsequently was selected as the first Force Master Chief of the Atlantic Fleet Training Command in July 1981. In July 1982, Master Chief Plackett was selected as Fleet Master Chief, Commander in Chief U.S. Atlantic Fleet where he served until his selection in July 1985 as the sixth Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy.
His personal decorations include the Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist
Surface Warfare Badge
The Surface Warfare Insignia is a military badge of the United States Navy which is issued to those Naval personnel who are trained and qualified to perform duties aboard United States surface warships. The Surface Warfare Pin was first proposed in 1972 and, by 1980, several classes of the Surface...
badge, the Navy Distinguished Service Medal
Navy Distinguished Service Medal
The Navy Distinguished Service Medal is a military award of the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps which was first created in 1919. The decoration is the Navy and Marine Corps equivalent to the Army Distinguished Service Medal, the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal, and the Coast...
, Legion of Merit
Legion of Merit
The Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces that is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements...
, Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal (United States)
The Meritorious Service Medal is a military decoration presented to members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguished themselves by outstanding meritorious achievement or service to the United States subsequent to January 16, 1969...
, Navy Achievement Medal and several unit awards.