Following graduation, he went to work for the Maryland State Motor Vehicle Administration. His enthusiasm was obvious and earned him a transfer to the Pikesville Barracks of the Maryland State Police where he was a teletype operator for three years. While working at that facility, he met, and eventually married, Sandra Lee Scheler.Bill wasn't too keen on being drafted, so opted to join the United States Navy. He was assigned to basic training at Great Lakes, and then was transferred to Pensacola, Florida where his skills as a teletype operator were honed.He successfully completed his schooling, then was sent to Cheltenham, Maryland where he began using his new found skills.A son, William Bernard Allenbaugh, Jr. was born to Bill and Sandra Lee on March 16, 1966. A little more than a year later, on March 29, 1967, Patricia Ann Allenbaugh was born.Both children never had an opportunity to know this fine, young man because he was killed on June 8, 1967 while serving aboard the USS LIBERTY.Bill had exactly one year left until his enlistment was to expire. His wish at the time of death was to return to Maryland and continue work with the State Police, one of the loves of his short life.
Untitled Poem - By William B. Allenbaugh, Jr.
This is dedicated to my father, William Bernard Allenbaugh, Sr. killed on the USS LIBERTY, 8 June 1967
Fathers work,
To earn their pay,
To raise their families,
Day by Day.
Fathers console their children,
When they are sad,
They punish their children
When they are bad.
Some families don't have Fathers,
They are killed or die,
Some are in prison,
Others run away and cry.
But without Fathers,
Where would we be,
Probably swimming out farther,
Then drowning, helplessly at sea.
Details
CT3 William Bernard Allenbaugh, USN, 684 49 96
Born 23 January 1944, Baltimore, Maryland
Active duty since 10 June 1964
Wife: Sandra Lee Allenbaugh, Lothian, Maryland
Parents: Mr. & Mrs. Wm. Francis Allenbaugh, Baltimore, Maryland
Memorial: Mr. & Mrs. Allenbaugh presented a memorial plaque to
Calvert Hall College, a catholic high school attended by Wm. Allenbaugh,
in his memory.
