WIL GRIESE

We always heard him referred to as "Captain Wil." He was a hero to his family, his community, his country.

One of his sons, Tim, wrote this on Wednesday:

We never would have known it if it weren't for one of my Dad's old friends who told us kids that, when strapped into the cockpit, Wil Griese was a tiger. Captain Wil is wearing a new set of wings this day, after passing away in his sleep early this morning. He always said that he never felt closer to God than when he was flying.

At one point in time, Dad was the most decorated war veteran living in the St. Louis area. He won the Navy Cross for sinking the Japanese battleship Hyuga in the Sea of Japan. He was awarded multiple Air Medals and commendations too numorous to list.

But, certainly, his greatest accomplishment was his marriage of over 63 years to Rosemary Murphy, his six children and their spouses, 12-grandchildren and 4-great-grandchildren.

He lived a good life. God rest his soul and let perpetual light shine upon him.

A good man left us today. Please keep him and his family in your thoughts.