Flight nurse a hero: 'Gave his life for little baby'

NORRIDGE -- Nurse William Mann reassured his parents he was safe during his helicopter medical missions, but to ease their minds, he was ready to take a job on the ground.

Just after his death in a crash, his parents received a call from a nurse at Evanston Hospital. She wanted them to know their "Billy" had impressed everyone so much in interviews that the hospital had planned to offer him a job.

Though it meant giving up flight missions of mercy, "I know his mom was very fearful for him," said Norridge Village President Earl Field.

"He was doing that for his mom. He said, 'It's OK, mom. If they offer it to me, I'm going to take it.'''

Mann died Wednesday when an Air Angels chopper carrying him and two crew members crashed in Aurora as it transported 14-month-old Kirstin Blockinger to Children's Memorial Hospital. All aboard were killed.

Mann, 31, was remembered Monday at a funeral that celebrated his dedication to serving others.

"He truly was an American hero,'' Field said, "and he gave his life for another little baby."

Norridge's Divine Savior Church was filled with family, friends, paramedics and firefighters, as well as Air Angels staffers wearing black armbands.

Mann's death hit the tightly-knit Norridge community hard. His mother and father still volunteer at the village carnival. Norridge kids grow up eating Italian food on Harlem Avenue, inhaling the sweet smells of the Maurice Lenell Cookie factory and hanging at the Norridge Theatre and HIP (Harlem Irving Plaza.)

Mann was enthralled with chopper rescue since he was a boy.

"He died doing something he loved," Field said.

"He always had a smile on his face," said Jon Roth. "He loved helping people," said Perry Lynch. Both have worked for Air Angels.

"Bill packed so much into a short life," said the Rev. Miguel Alcantara, praising his dedication. "Especially that service, (to) those that need it most. ... For the gift of this young man, we give thanks."