William Jerome Sidebottom of Hot Springs received an ROTC Commission in Armor from Arkansas Tech University in 1967. He volunteered for Vietnam, where he completed two tours and earned numerous honors: the Silver Star Medal for gallantry, the Bronze Star Medal, four awards of the Purple Heart Medal for combat moves, and nine awards of the Air Medal.

On February 17, 1970, Lieutenant Sidebottom earned the Silver Star Medal as a platoon leader with Troop Second Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment. Leading his troops in search of enemy fighters, his unit was hit by small arms, automatic weapons, and rocket-propelled grenade fire, wounding several soldiers. Directing his men back to their armored vehicles, he noticed one soldier could not walk due to leg wounds. Lieutenant Sidebottom carried the soldier through enemy fire to a medic. After calling for artillery and gunfire strikes, he returned to the contact area and evacuated two more casualties.