William C. Rogers III
Will C. Rogers III | |
|---|---|
Rogers speaking at the end of Vincennes 1988 deployment | |
| Born | December 13, 1938 Fort Worth, Texas, U.S. |
| Died | June 30, 2025 (aged 86) |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch | United States Navy |
| Service years | 1965–1991 |
| Rank | Captain |
| Commands | USS Cushing (DD-985) USS Vincennes (CG-49) Navy Tactical Training Group Point Loma |
| Conflicts | Vietnam War Operation Earnest Will |
| Awards | Legion of Merit Meritorious Service Medal Joint Service Commendation Medal Navy Commendation Medal Combat Action Ribbon Navy Expeditionary Medal Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal |
William Chapel Rogers III (December 13, 1938 – June 30, 2025) was an American naval officer was the captain of USS Vincennes, a Ticonderoga-class Aegis cruiser. During his command, the ship shot down Iran Air Flight 655 in the Persian Gulf in 1988, killing 290 civilians in a major international incident.