World War II Honoree

Leo Max Williams

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Lovell, Oklahoma

Honored By

OAMC, ROTC Class of 1943

SERVED IN THE ARMY RESERVE OFFICER TRAINING CORPS (ROTC) AT OKLAHOMA AGRICULTURAL AND MECHANICAL COLLEGE (OAMC) IN STILLWATER, OKLAHOMA FROM SEPTEMBER 1940 TO APRIL 5, 1943. SIMULTANEOUSLY SERVED AS A PRIVATE IN THE ENLISTED RESERVE CORPS WITH THE 1875TH SERVICE UNIT FROM JULY 1942 TO APRIL 5, 1943. INDUCTED AND CALLED TO ACTIVE DUTY ON APRIL 6, 1943. REPORTED TO THE RECEPTION CENTER AT FORT SILL, AT LAWTON, OKLAHOMA ON APRIL 12, 1943. ASSIGNED TO OFFICER CANDIDATE SCHOOL (OCS) AT FORT BENNING AT COLUMBUS, GEORGIA. HONORABLY DISCHARGED WITH THE RANK OF CORPORAL TO ACCEPT AN APPOINTMENT AS AN OFFICER. GRADUATED WITH HIS OCS CLASS, 15TH COMPANY, 3RD STUDENT TRAINING REGIMENT, AND WAS COMMISSIONED A SECOND LIEUTENANT IN THE INFANTRY IN THE FALL OF 1943. FOUGHT AS AN INFANTRYMAN OVERSEAS IN THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER, IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC AREA, DURING THE WAR AND WAS WOUNDED IN ACTION. AWARDED THE COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE, BRONZE STAR MEDAL, PURPLE HEART FOR WOUNDS RECEIVED IN ACTION, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AS A LIEUTENANT AND ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON. RECALLED TO ACTIVE DUTY AFTER THE WAR AND SERVED UNTIL AGAIN HONORABLY DISCHARGED WITH THE RANK OF FIRST LIEUTENANT.