William Badoud was in his third year of college in 1966 when his college deferment was canceled. At that point, with advice from his ROTC advisor, he enlisted for Warrant Officer Flight School. During Basic Training, William was offered Officer Candidate School, which he then attended, being commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Transportation Corps. Upon completion of OCS, then 2LT Badoud attend flight school at Fort Wolters, Texas. His first assignment after flight school was Vietnam and Company B, 9th Aviation Battalion, 9th Infantry Division. On 12 August 1968, 1LT Badoud, as the maintenance officer was on a mission to recover a downed helicopter. After landing in an enemy infested area near the downed craft, 1LT Badoud led his men across na open rice paddy to the disabled ship and provided security while the necessary repairs were completed. 1LT Badoud and one other man then boarded the damaged craft to fly it out. During lift off, vibration caused the right cargo door to swing open, endangering the rotor system. Forced to land amidst increasing hostile fire, 1LT Badoud exited the aircraft and closed the door. Reentering, he laid down a heavy base of fire as enemy bullets struck the craft. Due to his actions, the craft was saved. 1LT Badoud's outstanding flying ability and heroism under fire earned him the Distinguished Flying Cross, the nation's highest valor award for heroism in aerial flight against an enemy force.
On 3 March 1969, 1LT Badoud was serving as a pilot on a aerial reconnaissance mission near Vinh Kim. When his aircraft came under intense enemy fires as he flew over an area which was suspected to contain a hostile mortar emplacement, 1LT Badoud courageously began to orbit over the enemy positions to pinpoint them for supporting artillery. He remained on station, although continuing to receive hostile fire, until friendly artillery rounds, which he helped adjust, had silenced the enemy. Again, 1LT Badoud's outstanding flying ability and heroism under fire earned him his second Distinguished Flying Cross.
Returning from Vietnam, Cpt. Badoud was assigned to Fort Eustis, Virginia and the Army Transportation School. He served as a member of the Staff and Faculty of the Aviation Maintenance Training Department until his separation from active duty.
After leaving the Army he embarked on a civilian career in the field of industrial engineering. In a career spanning more than 40 years, he applied his creative engineering talents to a wide variety of industrial process and equipment challenges. In the early years he was focused on industrial packaging and machinery. In the later years he was engaged in more sophisticated programs including robotics, unmanned vehicles and experimental aircraft development.
Before his retirement, he returned to his original roots in Army aviation working as a civilian contract employee, solving technical issues with the (POE) Program Executive Office for Army Aviation at Redstone.