William F. Northam

William Frederick Northam of Stevensville, MD died on Monday, April 7, 2003 at Anne Arundel Medical Center in Annapolis, MD. He was 91. Col. Northam was born in Columbia City, IN on December 14, 1911, the son of the late Frank M. and Fanny M. Wunderlich Northam. He graduated from Culver Summer Naval School in 1929 and from Culver Military Academy in 1930. After receiving an Honor School Appointment to the United States Military Academy of West Point, N.Y. he graduated in 1934. Col. Northam’s Military assignments included; The Infantry School, Fort Bennington, GA; Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, KN; The National Air College, Maxwell Field, AL; and the Armed Forces Information School, Carlisle Barracks, PA. Other assignments included: Fort Benjamin Harrison, IN from 1934 to 1935, Schofield Barracks, HI from 1935 to 1937, Fort Benning, GA from 1937 to 1938, Fort Crook, NB from 1939 to 1941, Schofield Barracks, HI from 1940 to 1942, Camp Roberts, CA in 1942, Camp San Louis Obispo, CA in 1943, Camp Rucker, AL in 1943, Camp Butner, NC from 1943 to 1944, European Theater of Operations Combat Service in France, Luxembourg, Belgium, Holland, and Germany from 1944 to 1945, Camp Breckinridge, KY in 1945, Fort Benjamin Harrison, IN from 1946 to 1947, Fort Leavenworth, KN from 1947 to 1948, Carlisle Barracks, PA in 1948, Washington D.C. from 1948 to 1949, Maxwell Air Force Base, AL from 1949 to 1950, Headquarters Far East Command, Tokyo from 1951 to 1953, Fifth Army Headquarters, Chicago, IL from 1953 to 1957, Strategic Intelligence School, Washington D.C. in 1957, Army Attaché, Bucharest, Rumania from 1957 to 1960, Augsburg Germany from 1960 to 1962, and Paris France from 1962 to 1964. In August of 1964 he retired with the rank of Full Colonel. His awards included the Silver Star, 2 Bronze Star Medals, Legion of Merit, Joint Services Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Combat Infantry Badge, and the Croix de Guerre avec palme. On June 22, 1938 he married Nancy Wright Wriston at Langley Field, VA. After retirement to Maitland, FL, he was the first director of the Maitland Civic Center, and for several years a stockbroker with A.G. Edwards and Sons Inc. in Orlando, FL. In 1997 he and his wife moved to Stevensville to live near their daughter Sally Campion and her family. Col. Northam lived by the West Point Credo of Duty, Honor, and Country all his life in everything he did. His loyalty and friendship to every West Pointer and especially his classmates knew no bounds. He loved to shout “I give you 34.” In addition to his wife, Nancy, he is survived by three daughters, Barbara W. Matteo of Tolland, CT, Patricia A. Riedel of Bradenton, FL and Sally N. Campion of Stevensville, MD; seven grandchildren; nine great grandchildren; two nieces; three nephews and several cousins. One brother, James K. Northam, and one sister, Frances Marian Grace, predeceased him. Memorial services will be held on Friday, April 11, 2003 at 4 PM at the Island Alliance Church in Stevensville, MD. Inurnment services will be held at West Point, NY at a later date. Memorial contributions may be made to Island Alliance Church, 510 Thompson Creek Rd., Stevensville, MD 21666 and/or Small Point Baptist Church, 1726 Main Rd., Phippsburg, ME 04562.