User:Billd1818

Bill Darrow, a short Bio. http://whdarrow.blogspot.com/ Bill was born on March 21st, 1945 in Boston, MASS. In June 1963 he graduated from high school in Belvidere, NC then joined the United States Marine Corps in October that same year. In 1964 Bill was chosen as an extra and stunt man in the movie “In Harm’s Way” staring John Wayne, Kirk Douglas, and several others. He served as a Scout / Raider in Viet Nam 1965 / 1966. During that time he received several Combat awards including the Bronze Star, two Vietnamese Crosses of Gallantry and two Purple Hearts. Bill served as a Marine Drill Instructor at Paris Island 1967 to 1969. In February 1969 he was commissioned as a Second Lt. and returned to Viet Nam later that year. He was distinguished to be chosen to command a Reconnaissance company as a Second Lt. where he served as the Company Commander of “B” Co. 3rd, Recon Bn. in Okinawa for 18 months. In 1972 Bill was a Capt. of Marines in the Philippine Islands. During that three year tour he was assigned as the Operation’s Officer / Security Officer for Camp Grandy, the first Vietnamese Refugee Camp after the fall of freedom in Viet Nam. He was also one of the first Marlboro Men in 1974 / 1976 on T.V., wrote all the action scenes, added characters, and wrote much of the dialog for the movie “High Velocity”. He was also the stunt double for both Ben Gazara and Paul Waynfield in that movie. In 1976 Bill resigned his regular commission and was retained as a reserve Marine Captain. During that time he became a police officer / Detective in Jacksonville, NC from 1977 to 1985. In 1983 Bill was placed in charge of the Special Operations Division, Jacksonville Police Dept. He also served as second in command of the Jacksonville SWAT team and was their sniper. Because of an injury, he retired from police work and became the manager of the Belk Dept. store and later an automobile salesman for Kennedy Olds in Jacksonville, NC. Bill retired from the U.S.M.C. in 1987 as an Intelligence Officer. That same year he opened “Stem to Stern”, a nautical gift shop located in Swansboro, NC. He was also the President of the Small Business Assn. as well as President of the local Chamber of Commerce. Following his avocation as a folk singer, he cut his first album, “Away Haul Away” in 1987. That was soon to be followed by “Legends of the Lone Star Bear, Book 1 and 2” which were children’s albums to accompanying Teddy Bears and Books by Remi Kramer. Remi Kramer was known as the “Father of the Marlboro Commercials” and was also a movie director in Hollywood. Later albums followed such as “Songs of the Sea, My Hearts in the Highlands, Civil War Memories, and The Highland Cloth.” Throughout the years Bill has performed as a folk singer, song writer at several events and clubs such as “The White Horse Pub, Paddy’s Hollow, The Dram Tree Restaurant, Several Folk Arts Festivals, The Williamsburg Scottish Festival, and many, many more. Bill also holds two BA degrees from Campbell University, NC in History and International Studies. Currently Bill lives with his wife Betty and his little Shiatsu Brandy. He also has recently become an ordained Christian Chaplain with the “Chaplain Fellowship Ministries.” Bill has four children and four grandchildren and one great grandson.