Watkins, William Randolph Iii
Male
Verified U.S. Air Force Lieutenant Colonel William Randolph Watkins III, 37, of Danville, Virginia, was killed in Iraq on April 7, 2003, while serving with the 333rd Fighter Squadron.
Their Story
William Randolph Watkins III was a lieutenant colonel in the United States Air Force, assigned to the 333rd Fighter Squadron based at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in North Carolina. He was a 37-year-old native of Danville, Virginia.
On April 7, 2003, Watkins was killed in a hostile incident in Iraq. According to the Department of Defense, he was fatally wounded by small arms fire while on the ground near Baghdad International Airport. He was not flying a mission at the time of his death.
His death occurred during the initial combat phase of Operation Iraqi Freedom, a U.S.-led invasion that began on March 19, 2003. The operation aimed to topple the government of Saddam Hussein. Watkins was one of the first U.S. Air Force officers killed in the conflict.
His death was reported by major news outlets, including The Washington Post and CNN. The Air Force confirmed his assignment to the 333rd Fighter Squadron, a unit that flew F-15E Strike Eagle aircraft.
Watkins is memorialized on the Air Force Memorial and is listed among the more than 4,400 U.S. service members who died during Operation Iraqi Freedom. His name appears on the Iraq War casualty roster maintained by the Department of Defense.
Explore Further
Lt. Col. Watkins was killed during Operation Iraqi Freedom (2003–2010). The conflict concluded in August 2010. See the full roster of those killed in this conflict.
Among those documented in the same conflict: Kennedy, Brian Matthew, Beaupre, Ryan Anthony, Gutierrez, Jose, Waters-bey, Kendall Damon.
