Vietnam altered his life’s course

William “Bill” Cochrane’s life epitomized selflessness. After a near-death experience in Vietnam, he felt a profound need to give back.

“He tried to give back everything he felt he was bestowed,” said his daughter, Sarah Hornig, one of his and his late wife Susan’s four children. “I think when he almost died in Vietnam, it really changed his perception on life. He was a very strong believer in God and very active at Pax Christi (Catholic Community in Eden Prairie). He was one of the most unselfish people I’ve ever met in my life.”

The longtime Eden Prairie resident died on May 31 at age 77, leaving a legacy of generosity and dedication to his family, friends, and fellow veterans.

After retiring in 2002 from a 30-plus-year career at Ford Motor Co., where he served as a regional manager for fleet and leasing, Cochrane dedicated himself to championing veterans’ causes.

He volunteered at the Minneapolis VA Hospital, served on the Eden Prairie Veterans Memorial Committee, and was a trustee and past chair of the Minnesota Veterans 4 Veterans Trust Fund. Cochrane, who is listed on the Veterans Wall of the Eden Prairie Veterans Memorial in tribute to his service, was also active with the Disabled American Veterans, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the Military Order of the Purple Heart.

“I know I’m kind of biased, but he really tried to give back to everybody and rarely did things for himself,” said Hornig, who also lives in Eden Prairie. “A couple of years ago, he traveled back to Vietnam with a group, and it was an amazing experience for him. It healed him so much. Even then, he was concerned about the cost of the tickets, which were a couple of thousand bucks for coach (seats). I told him, ‘Dad, you should go first class on this.’ He asked, ‘Really? Should I do that?’ I was like, ‘Yes.'”

Surviving the Battle of Ripcord

Cochrane’s Vietnam service was a pivotal chapter in his life, profoundly influencing his path and leaving lasting scars.

“He knew his draft card was coming up,” Hornig said. “It was simple math. He wanted to become a fighter pilot and passed all the aptitude tests; his eyesight was great. He met all the requirements, but my mom talked him out of it because she just wanted him to get in and get out. So, he took a different route and didn’t want to be an officer, even though he could have been, as he had a college degree.”

A Richfield native, Cochrane served in Vietnam with the 101st Airborne Artillery.

On July 1, 1970, he was at Fire Support Base (FSP) Ripcord when his unit was surrounded and attacked by over 2,000 North Vietnamese soldiers with mortar rounds.

In a Veteran of the Day article published by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Cochrane described this operation as a covert mission aimed at disrupting North Vietnamese supply lines in the A Shau Valley, located in South Vietnam.

“They were on top of a hill, and my dad ran back to get diesel for some of the heavy artillery he was in charge of,” Hornig said of her father’s experience. “That’s when the mortar attack happened. He was hit in the head and shoulder, his chest was injured, and he almost lost his leg. He pretty much saw the light.”

In a 2013 Eden Prairie News story, Cochrane said he lost about half of his left lung, which collapsed several times. Once stabilized, he was transported to a Marine hospital in Da Nang. Later, he was brought to the United States, spending six to eight weeks in a Denver hospital before being discharged from the hospital and the Army.

Cochrane recovered, returned home, got married, and raised a family, but Hornig said the psychological scars remained. Fireworks, in particular, were difficult for him for a long time.

“He had a lot of PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder),” Hornig said. “He carried it with him and worked with therapists. It helped, but he could never fully shake it.”

In the ’80s, understanding of PTSD was limited, and its effects varied from person to person, as Hornig noted.

“He wasn’t violent,” she said. “His PTSD caused him to withdraw and experience flashbacks. People suggested yoga or meditation, but he couldn’t do those because holding his breath was difficult due to his chest and lung injuries. So, he had to be careful with certain activities.”

In 2002, after research corrected his military records, Cochrane was awarded the Purple Heart and Bronze Star medals.

“At this point in my life, I owe it to my kids and grandkids to set the record straight,” he said in a 2002 Eden Prairie News story.

‘The man couldn’t sit still’

Upon retiring from Ford, Cochrane’s advocacy for veterans swung into high gear. He played a pivotal role in creating the Eden Prairie Veterans Memorial, raising funds and securing sponsorships from local businesses.

He also played a key role with the local chapter of the Military Order of the Purple Heart.

“When veterans needed services, he would figure out their benefits, whether financial or mental health-related,” Hornig said. “He was so ingrained in the system that he could navigate it for these vets. You know how complex the government can be.”

While advocating for veterans, he also spent much time with his grandchildren, often doing adventurous activities. Hornig recalled one in particular. “He took my kids, who are now in college, out to play all day. They even went up in a Piper airplane from Flying Cloud Airport without my permission,” she laughed.

“The man couldn’t sit still,” she said. When he wasn’t spending time with his grandkids or his buddies at the VA, he attended numerous car shows. “He had many different groups of friends,” she added. “There were the car guys, the VA guys, the Ford guys, and the neighborhood guys.”

Cochrane’s passion for cars was a defining aspect of his life. His prized 1966 Shelby Mustang GT350 was a testament to his love for automobiles.

“He spent countless hours in the garage tinkering with it and driving it around,” Hornig said. “Ironically, his brother owns the same car in a different color, so the two of them would bomb around town in these matching muscle cars.”

She said her father was not a handyman around the house, but he could fix anything with a car.

“If you asked him to fix a window, that’s not going to happen, but a carburetor or anything like that – he was your guy,” she said.

Facing challenges with grace

In his later years, Cochrane dealt with health challenges, including skin cancer, a stroke, and Parkinson’s disease. Several months ago, he was diagnosed with Stage 4 bladder cancer.

“It became clear that his cancer was advanced,” Hornig said. “We tried different treatments, but they didn’t help and just made him miserable. Given his age, surgery wasn’t an option. So, we switched to hospice care to make him comfortable.”

Cochrane and his family took a spring vacation to Florida. In a large rented house, he enjoyed good food and a cocktail every night, Hornig said.

“He was even managing steps, which amazed us,” she said. “But after we got back, he really declined and needed around-the-clock care within a week or two.”

Since his death, Hornig has appreciated hearing from many people who remember her father’s acts of kindness.

“Strangers have called me, saying they knew my dad from various places,” she said. “They tell me about the great jobs he did, like running the veterans-to-veterans fund and serving as treasurer. He gave so many hours to help others. He was very humble and never bragged about his achievements. I’m still learning new things about him.”

Funeral service information

William Leslie “Bill” Cochrane is survived by his brother Patrick D. Cochrane (RaeAnn); his children Sarah Hornig, Anne Fineran (Shane), William (Sherry), and Patrick; and his grandchildren Lainey and Cate Hornig, Grace and Carrick Fineran, Camilla, Barrett, Creighton Cochrane, and Rylen Bannon.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Susan, and his parents, Yvonne and Leslie.

A funeral Mass will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, June 26, with visitation one hour prior, at Pax Christi Catholic Community, 12100 Pioneer Trail, Eden Prairie. A committal service with honors will follow at Fort Snelling at 1:30 p.m. A celebration of life will be held at Redstone in Eden Prairie from 2 to 6 p.m. For those unable to attend in person, the funeral Mass will be livestreamed on the Pax Christi homepage.

Donations in Cochrane’s memory can be made to the Magnus Veterans Foundation.

---

To learn more about Bill Cochrane and the Battle of the Ripcord:

• Cochrane was recorded in 2008 recounting his Vietnam experience. The William Leslie Cochrane Collection at the Library of Congress also includes several photos of him.
• He shared his story of surviving the Battle of the Ripcord in a 2017 Southwest News Media story by Tim Engstrom.
• More on Battle of the Ripcord can be found on the FSP Ripcord Association website and this 2012 article on the U.S. Army website.