William Nordeen

Who was William Nordeen?

William Edward Nordeen was an American diplomat. Born in Amery, Wisconsin and raised in nearby Centuria, he was the United States defense and naval attaché to the U.S. Embassy in Athens, Greece. Nordeen was killed in Greece by a terrorist's bomb.

The 51 year-old US Navy captain was driving in an armor-plated sedan near Athens when a car bomb was detonated next to him via remote control. He was thrown from the car and killed by the blast. Nordeen was survived by his wife, Patricia, son William E. Nordeen II and daughter Annabel and he was buried at Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors.

The Greek terrorist group Revolutionary Organization 17 November claimed the blast, making Nordeen one of five American embassy employees killed by the organization. They threatened to kill more Americans until the United States abandoned its four bases in Greece.