PFC Thomas Henry Williams

courtesy of MAJ Jimmy Cotton

PFC Thomas Henry Williams was born 19 Aug 1917 in Troutdale, Virginia. He was the first of Walter Johnson and Dora Geneva (Pierce) Williams' 8 children. His father supported the family by farming in Grayson County, Virginia, at first on rented land and then on his own farm. Thomas and his siblings certainly helped their father and Thomas was able to attend 3-years of high school before going to work full-time. That is, in the economy of the time, it was difficult for Thomas to find full-time employement.

Thomas was drafted in May 1941. In accordance with policy at this time in the war he was sent to Fort George Meade, Maryland for processing and assigned to A Company 116th Infantry. PVT Williams then trained with the unit there and near Fort Bragg, North Carolina and Camp Blanding, Florida before sailing to England with the unit in September 1942. Once in England he trained with his company as it prepared for the amphibious invasion of Nazi occupied France. PFC Williams took part in that assault on 6 Jun 1944 and was killed in action on that day.

PFC Williams rests forever in the Normandy American Cemetery.

Great-grandfather, David Crockett Williams, served as a PVT in A Company 34th North Carolina Infantry (CSA) wounded at Chancellorsville, captured and interned at Point Lookout.