Veteran, Wisecrack Warrior; Our Beloved Friend Alfred William ‘Will Bill’ Eustes: Has Left the Bounds of This Earth

+ Alfred William ‘Wild Bill’ Eustes, Jr. – June 13, 1932 – October 24, 2025

We all knew our Wisecrack Warrior friend’s health had been in decline for the last several months, for when he started showing up for meetings with oxygen in tow, we knew something was afoot. For some years Bill Eustes was a member of our Lone Star Honor Flight Veterans Group, or 105. and he would enjoy gathering in our unique Veterans clan, the only one in the nation that meets weekly on Wednesdays for breakfast, provided by a selection of local restaurants and civic organizations. And in our group is a table of wisecracks, men of all the branches of our military services that don’t quite fit into the Marine table, or any other table, but all seemed to gather at the insistence of a funny looking ex-Marine with an interesting laugh. When Bill arrived, he was drawn to the table of laughing ex-service men, and was easily welcomed.

With Eustes being over 90 years of age, we were all impressed, even though he was fourteen years younger than the oldest guy in the room. He soon gained the nickname ‘Wild Bill,’ and even with our funny quips, he routinely responded with witty straightman comebacks. Bill was an outlier in our Group of Wiscracks. He was the oldest, the most religious, and had served the longest of us all. He would occasionally take a Wisecrack Warrior Lunch with the gang at a pho restaurant, and I enjoyed writing about the ventures, barely mentioning what we ate, but just loving the camaraderie of men of different ages and conflicts, all sharing a love for fellowship, laughter, and stories. Wild Bill was an amazing guy, being able to walk into the group each week unaided by canes or rollators. His fit and trim figure set a model of health, which even some of our Vietnam guys still need to learn. When his son passed away last year, we mourned alongside him, and enjoyed meeting those who happened to tag along with him on a particular Wednesday to the group.

I was in Port Lavaca on a Warrior’s Weekend, having left the day of Wild Bill’s passing, and it was during a Memorial Remembrance Ceremony for Soldiers who had passed away in battle, when a tear suddenly dropped from my left eye. My friend and fellow Wisecrack Warrior Ed Holesovsky, asked if I was OK, to which I replied that I was, but little did I know the significance of the tear until I returned home, when we found that Our Great Friend Bill had passed away.

We have so much fun in the group. We made a sign for new Veterans to the group, in which new guys would put their head in the sign, with huge ears on each side, and at the top it read, “I Can’t Hear You.” We’ve all taken funny pictures, looking goofy and crazy, we all crack jokes about each other, taking no offense, but laughing our tails at the mentions. Then we started putting pictures on the wall near our table, of which Wild Bill has the premiere spot of honor. Following his passing, I suggested that some sort of designator be placed for members who have passed away, and the very next Veterans meeting, someone had placed a black wreath around our beloved friend’s picture frame.

Wild Bill’s memorial service was this past Saturday in Conroe. I had remembered a poem that was written by a Veteran by the name of Bill Morrison, from Montgomery. I believe he was a World War II Veteran, and when he was like 80 he started writing poems, and compiled them in 2015, in a book called, ‘Things I Didn’t Say – ‘Til Now.’ On page 65, is a poem ‘The 105 Club,’ verses in which he described the OG, original gangsters of 105, the men who fought World War II, and writing about their experiences from Pearl Harbor, storming ashore beaches, prison camps, kamikaze attacks, etc. I had read the poem at the memorial service of the brother of my good friend Billy Ray Duncan, who was a Vietnam Veteran. I got to thinking about the poem, now that most of the World War II guys and even Korea Vets are gone, I updated it to reflect the conflicts of Vietnam, Desert Storm, Iraq, and Afghanistan Veterans. But I still kept the memories of the guys who have passed on.

When I arrived at the service, I met Bill’s family, and showed his son the poem and offered to share some experiences of their Father and Grandfather with the Wisecrack Warriors. It was an honor to speak to Wild Bill’s Family and Friends, as I regaled them with some funny anecdotes involving their patriarch, and then I read the poem. When I returned to my seat, my friend and Wisecrack Warrior founder, Curtis Cole, gave me a brotherly embrace and thanks. He really looked up to Wild Bill and was deeply saddened by his passing.

Colonel Alfred William “Bill” Eustes Jr., age 93, began his military service in 1951 when he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force, where he served as an instructor in the Aircraft and Engine School, including the B36 School. Following his active service he pursued a career in the ministry, and preached in Texas, Georgia and Florida. He returned to the Air Force in 1965 as a Chaplain, serving in numerous stateside bases, as well as overseas postings in Ubon, Thailand; Izmir, Turkey; and Rhein-Main AFB, Germany. He retired with more than 33 years of service shortly after Operation Desert Storm. Following his military service he was the Chaplain at DFW Airport, offering pastoral care to employees and travelers until his retirement in 1995. He was married to his wife Peggy for over 67 years, and she preceded him in death in May 2023. They had five children (four who survived to adulthood), many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Ms. Mary Bowers and several of her servers from Vernon’s Kuntry Katfish were on hand, with Hannah speaking on Wild Bill’s many visits to the restaurant and getting to know the staff. The Chaplain from his Christian Motorcycle Club also spoke. Bill will be missed by not only his family, and friends, Veterans, restaurants, and clubs.