Bill Boucher was born on July 31, 1932, in Kansas City, Missouri. He entered the U.S. Military Academy at West Point on July 5, 1950, and was commissioned a 2d Lt in the U.S. Air Force on June 4, 1954. Lt Boucher next completed pilot training and was awarded his pilot wings at Laredo AFB, Texas, in August 1955, and then attended Aerial Observer Training at James Connelly AFB, Texas, from September 1955 to April 1956. After completing B-47 Stratojet Combat Crew Training, he was assigned as a B-47 pilot with the 345th Bomb Squadron of the 98th Bomb Wing at Lincoln AFB, Nebraska, from October 1956 to September 1960, followed by an Air Force Institute of Technology assignment to the University of Nebraska from September 1960 to September 1961. During this time, Capt Boucher completed his Master's Degree. His next assignment was as a Research and Development Staff Assistant in the Space & Orbital Project Division with the Air Force Missile Test Center at Patrick AFB, Florida, from September 1961 to June 1965, and then as a Technical Information Officer in the Evaluations Division with Air Force Cambridge Research Laboratories at Hanscom Field, Massachusetts, from July 1965 to April 1966. Maj Boucher attended F-100 Super Sabre Combat Crew Training and survival training from May to October 1966, followed by service as Training and Plans Officer with the 12th Tactical Fighter Wing at Cam Ranh Bay AB, South Vietnam, from November 1966 to August 1967. During this time, he flew 127 combat missions in the F-4 Phantom II. Col Boucher's final assignment was as a Project Officer and Division Chief with Headquarters Air Force Space and Missile Systems Organization at Los Angeles AFS, California, from November 1967 until his retirement from the Air Force on April 1, 1977.

His Bronze Star Medal Citation reads

Major William A. Boucher distinguished himself by meritorious service as Assistant Plans and Training Officer, Deputy commander for Operations, of the 12th Tactical Fighter Wing while serving with friendly forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force from 11 November 1966 to 25 August 1967. During this period, Major Boucher consistently demonstrated professional ability, selfless application to a wide variety of extra tasks, both routine and emergency in nature, and an intense desire to accomplish through completion of detailed administrative, operational and logistic coordination for mobility and base defense plans. The exemplary leadership, personal endeavor, and devotion to duty displayed by Major Boucher in this responsible position reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.