 “Willie” Fields was an American competition rower, Olympic gold medalist, and an officer in the U.S. Navy. He hailed from Forsyth, Georgia, and attended the U.S. Naval Academy, graduating in 1954. In 1952, the Naval Academy's Rowing Crew participated in the 1952 Summer Olympic Games in Helsinki as the U.S. Olympic Rowing Team. Fields was a member of the team that defeated the Soviet Union and Australia to win the Gold Medal. Following his graduation from Annapolis, he served in Korea and Vietnam and retired in 1977 as a Commander. Following his retirement, he returned to Georgia and became a high school crew coach. He passed away in 1992.

Commander Willie Fields was an Olympic Games Gold Medalist Athlete. A competitive rower, part of the Great Eight, he competed at the 1952 Summer Olympic Games in Helsinki, Finland as a member of the United States Olympic Rowing Team, which was made up of the United States Naval Academy's Rowing Crew. He was part of the team's Coxed Eight that defeated the Soviet Union and Australian teams to win the Gold Medal. In 1954 he graduated from the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland, and became a career naval officer, serving in Korea and Vietnam before retiring in 1977 with the rank of Commander.

*The preceding content is not intended as a comprehensive biography, but it highlights their significance as a result of military or civilian distinction, lasting achievements, or association with impactful national events. 



https://www.usni.org/magazines/naval-history-magazine/2000/october/nine-navy-golds




https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BkVbhLIhqbI



Marietta National Cemetery

Georgia National Cemetery

william beauford fields's Profile Picture

WILLIAM BEAUFORD FIELDS

Service

KOREA

VIETNAM

US NAVY,

CDR

Resting Place

Mementos

Tributes

Word Cloud

undefined

Milestones

Mementos

Historical Documents

Veteran programs and services

More VA resources

Get VA updates

In crisis? Get help now

Contact us