Photo: NASA / Public domain (source: Wikimedia Commons)
My Take
What strikes me most about William McCool is the quiet integrity behind the achievements. An Eagle Scout, a naval aviator, and the pilot of Columbia's final flight, he embodied a kind of disciplined idealism that feels increasingly rare. His death during reentry in 2003 turned him into a symbol, but I prefer to remember the person who kept reaching upward by choice. The posthumous Congressional Space Medal of Honor is more than a decoration to me; it is a reminder that exploration carries real human cost. Whenever I look up at the night sky, people like him are exactly who I think of.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- William C. McCool
- Name (Japanese)
- ウィリアム・マッコール
- Reading
- うぃりあむ・まっこーる
- Born
- September 23, 1961 – February 1, 2003
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Libra / Ox
- Origin
- San Diego, California, United States
- Blood type
- Private
- Height
- Private
- Agency
- Private
- Occupation
- military officer / astronaut / aircraft pilot / military flight engineer
2. Background
- Elementary school
- Private
- Junior high
- Private
- High school
- Coronado High School
- University
- Private
Awards & achievements
- 2004 Congressional Space Medal of Honor
- 2003 NASA Distinguished Service Medal
- Eagle Scout
3. Relationships
- Spouse
- Private
- Children
- Private
- Parents
- Private
- Siblings
- Private
4. Personality
Motto
Private
6. Links
Frequently asked questions
When was William C. McCool born?
September 23, 1961 – February 1, 2003.
Where is William C. McCool from?
William C. McCool is from San Diego, California, United States.
What does William C. McCool do?
William C. McCool works as military officer, astronaut, aircraft pilot, military flight engineer.
Military officer — see all → · Astronaut — see all → · More people from United States →
7. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-21
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public items are marked "Private / Unknown". English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.