William (Pete) Piazza

SMSgt William Piazza was born 18 February 1943 in Schenectady, New York, and raised in Brooklyn before joining the Air Force on 19 February 1960. Piazza served over 28 years as a Military Air Policeman and Security Policeman at Air Force bases worldwide including Okinawa, Vietnam, Korea, and the Philippines. Stateside, he was stationed in New Hampshire, Texas, Florida, and Oklahoma. 

Piazza served three tours of duty in Vietnam. His first tour was with the 12th Air Police Squadron at Cam Ranh Bay Air Base from January to December 1966. His third tour, June 1970 to June 1971, was at Phu Cat Air Base with the 12th Security Police Squadron. His leadership positions included Flight Line Security, Security Alert Teams, and Cobra Flight Sector Supervisor.

Piazza’s second tour, July 1967 to July 1968, was with the 3rd Security Police Squadron at Bien Hoa Air Base near Saigon where he was NCOIC of the “C” Flight Security Resupply Team. At 3AM on 31 January 1968, a rocket barrage announced the enemy’s Tet Offensive. An estimated 1500 attacking enemy against 425 Security Police and augmentees threatened to overrun the critical defense location, Bunker Hill-10, which protected the approach to the aircraft flight line. As ammunition quickly dwindled, SSgt Piazza, without hesitation and under fire, drove his vehicle loaded with ammunition and flares to Bunker Hill-10, joining the fighting. He assumed command when the onsite commander, Captain Reginald Maisey who was awarded the Air Force Cross, was killed in action. For his gallantry in action, Piazza was awarded the Silver Star and Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat “V” Device.

Upon retirement in 1989, Piazza worked as a Department of Veterans Affairs Police Officer at the VA Medical Center in Oklahoma City, retiring in August 1999. One gate at Tinker AFB was named in his honor. SMSgt Piazza resides in Del City, Oklahoma.