World War II Honoree

Joseph Banks Williams

Branch of Service

U.S. Merchant Marine

Hometown

New York

Honored By

Richard E. Miller

THE FIRST AMERICAN OF AFRICAN DESCENT TO ENROLL AT AND GRADUATE FROM THE U.S. MERCHANT MARINE ACADEMY. NATIVE OF ANNAPOLIS WHO WAS REFUSED ADMISSION INTO THE NAVAL ACADEMY. ASSIGNED AS A DECK CADET ON THE SS BOOKER T. WASHINGTON, CARRYING WAR CARGO TO EUROPE AND NORTH AFRICA DURING HIS 10 MONTHS ABOARD. AFTER GRADUATION IN 1944 HE WENT ON ACTIVE DUTY WITH THE NAVY, WHICH WAS FINALLY ACCEPTING BLACKS AS OFFICERS, BECOMING THE SECOND AFRO-AMERICAN OFFICER IN THE NAVAL CIVIL ENGINEER CORPS..