World War II Honoree

Robert E. Williams

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Metamora, Illinois

Honored By

Aniceto I. Bagley

Relationship

Friend

ENLISTED IN THE U.S. NAVY IN JUNE 1944. AFTER COMPLETING BOOT CAMP AT THE GREAT LAKES NAVAL STATION, HE WAS SENT OVERSEAS ON THE USS ADMIRALTY ISLANDS CVE-99. IN SEPTEMBER 1944, HE WAS ASSIGNED TO MANUS, ADMIRALTY ISLANDS TO HELP SET UP A SPARE PARTS DISTRIBUTION CENTER (SPDC). ON MANUS, HE ASSISTED IN RECOVERY OPERATIONS WHEN THE USS MT. HOOD BLEW UP. EARLY IN 1945, HE WAS ASSIGNED TO SUBIC BAY IN THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS. THERE HE SERVED IN A SHIP REPAIR UNIT (SRU) UNTIL JUNE 1946 WHEN HE RETURNED TO THE U.S. WHERE HE WAS WITH THE SEATTLE, WASHINGTON DECOMMISSIONING GROUP. WHEN HE WAS DISCHARGED IN JULY 1946, HE HAD ATTAINED THE RANK OF STOREKEEPER 2ND CLASS. UPON LEAVING THE NAVY, HE JOINED THE ILLINOIS ARMY NATIONAL GUARD AND SOON AFTER JOINED THE REGULAR ARMY THUS BECOMING A WWII VETERAN OF BOTH THE NAVY AND THE ARMY.