William Verne Flaherty – White Oak

William Verne Flaherty, 75, of White Oak, passed away peacefully at his home on Tuesday, Aug.10, 2021, surrounded by those who love him. He was born June 6, 1946, in McKeesport, and was the son of the late Regis J. and Ina Morrison Flaherty. William was a U.S. Navy veteran assigned to the USS Sandoval for three years. He then served with friendly foreign forces engaged in armed conflict against North Vietnamese and Viet Cong communist aggressors in the Republic of Vietnam. There he served with the Brown Water Navy Patrol Boat River Division 552, known as RivDiv 552. On the night of July 18, 1969, while on patrol, his boat came under intense enemy rocket propelled grenade and automatic weapons fire. Bill immediately manned his weapon and opened fire, only to be blown from his position when an enemy rocket penetrated the starboard armor shield, spraying shrapnel through the boat. Although seriously wounded and seeing his leg was going to be lost, he courageously attempted to reman his weapon. Only when physically restrained did he cease his efforts to defend his damaged craft and crew mates and allow the patrol officer to administer first aid. For his service, he received two Purple Hearts, the National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Bronze Star and the Vietnam Campaign Medal. Bill was a firm believer in military service organizations and was a lifetime member of the Disabled American Veterans and Military Order of the Purple Heart. Bill was a man of courage and compassion who loved God, his country, his wife, his extended family and friends and companion animals. His love was returned by them. He is survived by his wife, Paulette Jeanne Smolik Flaherty of White Oak; brothers, Edward J. (Lorraine) Davis of Chicago, Ill., Harry T. (Erika) Flaherty of Mesquite, Nev., and Glenn D. Flaherty of White Oak; sister, Faye Flaherty Wilkinson of White Oak; nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews. He was preceded in death by his sister, Patricia Flaherty and her husband Edward Dowling; nephew, Regis Dowling; and brother-in-law, Kenneth Wilkinson. Friends are welcome from 1 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 15, 2021, at GILBERT FUNERAL HOME & CREMATORY INC., 1638 Lincoln Way, White Oak, PA 15131, 412-672-6322, Troy J. Gilbert, director. A funeral service will take place at 9 a.m. Monday, Aug. 16, 2021, in the funeral home chapel, followed by burial at the National Cemetery of the Alleghenies in Bridgeville. Memorial donations to support military service organizations can be made to DAV, P.O. Box 14301, Cincinnati, OH 45250 or to Military Order of the Purple Heart, P.O. Box 96188, Washington, DC 20090. Condolences may be made at Gilbertfuneralhomeandcrematory.com.