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Lance Corporal Billy Stelpflug, USMC (1964-1983)
William John Stelpflug, fondly known as Billy to family and friends, served in the United States Marine Corps reaching the meritorious rank of Lance Corporal. Many today may only know him as a soldier that gave the ultimate sacrifice, but his character and personality made him far more than that. Characterized in statements from friends and family, as well as letters sent home from war, we know that Billy was witty, humorous, bold, outgoing and fearless.
Billy was born at the U.S. Air Force Academy on March 13, 1964 to Peggy Blank Stelpflug and William Joseph Stelpflug. Since his father was a Lt. Colonel in the United States Air Force, his family frequently moved around the country. Starting at age 9, Billy called the City of Auburn home. He attended Auburn schools, graduating from Auburn High School in 1982. He was a member of St. Michaels Catholic Church, was a scout in Trooper 30, played catcher in the city's youth baseball program and worked summers helping with cotton research at Auburn University.
Upon graduating from high school, Billy enlisted in the Marine Corps and was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Infantry Regiment, specializing in the use of an anti-tank weapon known as the "Dragon." As described by a friend, this weapon "required patience and extremely disciplined, clear, resourceful minds in the Marines who operate it." Almost immediately upon his assignment to the 1/8, he was deployed to Beirut, Lebanon as a part of a Multi-National Peacekeeping Force where he excelled in his duties. While deployed, he received a meritorious promotion on recommendation from his squad leader and gained favor with his fellow servicemen.
On October 23, 1983, Billy, along with 241 other Marines and servicemen, lost his life when a terrorist drove a truck loaded down with 12,000 pounds of explosives into the headquarters of the 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment attached to the 24th Marine Amphibious Unit, collapsing the roof and leveling the building. Found in the rubble days later was a poem entitled "The War King Calls." The poem, written by Stelpflug, characterized the struggle and intensity of the war.
Billy's legacy lives on in yearly remembrances at Jacksonville, North Carolina, and Camp Lejeune; at the Memorial Service Walk in Columbus, Georgia; and in the Marine Corps League Billy Stelpflug Detachment formed by Jack Simms and William Weidner, both former WWII Marines and heads of department at Auburn University. The Stelpflug family is very proud that Billy's legacy will also now include an Auburn University Marine ROTC Scholarship supported by his family, his detachment and Beirut Marine Survivors.
Son. Brother. Friend. Warrior. Hero. Lance Corporal Billy Stelpflug will never be forgotten. His legacy will continue, and the City of Auburn will forever be grateful for his service and ultimate sacrifice.
The City of Auburn is proud to honor Lance Corporal William John Stelpflug as the City of Auburn 2017 Hero Remembered.
God bless, and Semper Fidelis, Lance Corporal William John Stelpflug.
William John (Billy) Stelpflug
Lance Corporal, USMC
Detachment History
In early 2000, while shopping in a local grocery store, two Marines, Bill Weidner and Jack Simms, both World War II veterans, met and started talking about the number of Marines they each knew in the Auburn-Opelika area.
They decided to form a Marine Corps League chapter in Lee County and invited all the Marines they knew to a meeting.
Soon a Detachment was formed and it was officially chartered on November 14, 2000 with Bill Weidner as the first Detachment Commandant.
Members voted to name the new Detachment, The Billy Stelpflug Detachment #1064 in honor of a 19-year-old, Marine from Auburn, Alabama, who was killed in the 1983 Beirut, Lebanon, terrorist bombing of the Marine barracks while attached to the 24th Marine Amphibious Unit (MAU) which was part of the multi-national peacekeeping force providing a U.S. military presence in Lebanon.
Over the years, the Detachment has grown and is involved with many Marine, civic, and educational programs in the Auburn-Opelika area.
In 2002, the Detachment was incorporated as a 501(c)(4) organization.
Past Detachment Commandants:
2000-2001 Bill Weidner
2001 Grady Jones
2002 Jack Simms
2003-2004 John Benefield
2004-2005 Bob Jonson
2006-2007 Chester F. Tankersley
2008-2009 Earl R. Allen
2010-2011 Eugene Standaland
2012-2013 Caleb W. Pipes
2014-2015 Grady Jones
2016-2017 Matthew Wilson
2018-2019 John L. Alums
2020-2022 Robert Jonson
Billy Stelpflug Detachment #1064
Marine Corps League Charter,
14 November 2000.
Detachment Officers & Committees
2020-2021 Detachment Officers
Commandant:
Matt Wilson
Senior Vice Commandant:
Eugene Stanaland
Junior Vice Commandant:
Mike Carreca
Judge Advocate:
Harry Hooper
Paymaster:
Rudy Vuchinich
Adjutant:
Rudy Vuchinich
Chaplain:
Ron Russell
Sergeant at Arms:
John Reichmann
Past Commandant:
Robert Jonson
Web Sergeant
Jim Doyle
Veteran Affairs Voluntary Service
(VAVS) Contact:
Ricardo Garcia
Toys 4 Tots Coordinator:
Ricardo Garcia
Marine4Life Liaison:
Ricardo Garcia
Detachment Committees
Nomination Committee:
Matt Wilson, Chair
Gene Stanaland
John Reichmann
Budget & Audit Committee:
Gene Stanaland, Chair
Matt Wilson
Caleb Brayer
John Reichmann
Recruiting, Retention, & Publication Committee:
Mike Carreca, Chair
Kirk Meinhardt
Perry Caldwell
Gene Stanaland
Matt Wilson
Ron Russell
Fund Raising & Special Assignments Committee:
Rusty Alums, Chair
Caleb & Julia Pipes
Gene Stanaland
