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The Chase-Rescorla Scholarship

Chase-Rescorla Scholarship Fund: Memorial Scholarship Annual Awards Dinner

The Chase Rescorla Scholarship Fund was a response to the lives of Leo C. Chase and Rick Rescorla, both of whom served in Vietnam in the 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile), 7th Cavalry Regiment. This fund will award a scholarship to a local student in the names of Chase and Rescorla to keep alive the memories of these heroes.

The fund will pay a student's college or trade-school tuition and books. Guidance counselors will be asked to recommend candidates for the Chase Rescorla Scholarship Fund. Then a selection board will act to select a recipient.

Chase - Rescorla Scholarship Fund Board of Directors and Officers: Septimus Connor President, David Shoar Vice President, Greg White Treasurer, Michael Pullium Secretary. At large members are William Jefferson, Ann Lawton, and Tom Crawford. Committee Chairman SSG Kevin Crowell.

Tax-deductible contributions can be sent to Prosperity Bank account number #7022086801. This is a non-profit fund.

Nine $1,000 Scholarships were awarded at the 2nd Annual Dinner on April 5, 2008. Five $1,000 Scholarships were awarded in 2009. Seven Scholarships will be awarded at the 2010 Dinner. The 2010 Dinner will be held May 15, 2010 at the Elks Lodge on Anastasia Island in St. Augustine, Florida. The keynote speaker will be William Franklin who served as 2nd Lieutenant and 3rd Platoon Leader, C Company, 1/7th, at LZ Xray, Ia Drang Valley. Directions to the Dinner can be found on the Annual Dinner Page.

2010 Sponsor Levels 2010 Sponsor Levels
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Scholarship Application Scholarship Application
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Invitation Letter Invitation Letter
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Table Registration Table Registration
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Keynote Speaker: William W. "Wild Bill" Franklin

William W. "Wild Bill" Franklin, 2nd Lieutenant and 3rd Platoon Leader, C Company, 1/7th, at LZ Xray, Ia Drang Valley, served with Leo Chase. Lt. Franklin was severely wounded while attempting to aid Company Commander, Captain Bob Edwards, just prior to Rick Rescorla’s platoon arriving with reinforcements.

Major Bruce Crandall, who was recently awarded the Medal of Honor for actions during the Ia Drang battle, was called to medivac the wounded. Lt. Franklin’s wounds were so severe that he was triaged as unlikely to survive. Captain Greg "Matt" Dillon insisted on Lt. Franklin being airlifted and he was thrown in on top of Capt. Edwards, both who survived.

Bill was born in Miami, Florida, attended Florida State University and graduated from the University of Miami. He served as an Enlisted Man for five years and a Commissioned Officer for 27 years. He served as an Infantry Officer, as well as a Fixed and Rotary Wing Aviator. As a military parachutist, then Captain Franklin commanded an A Detachment (A-Team) in the 20th Special Forces. He retired from the reserves as Lt. Colonel.

Recently, he again retired from the Federal Aviation Administration as Operations Inspector/Pilot, and currently makes his home in Melbourne, Florida, with his wife of 50 years, Sara.