World War II Honoree

Robert L. Williams, Jr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Houston, Texas

Honored By

Lenora, Donald Leon

Relationship

Wife & Son

DRAFTED INTO FEDERAL SERVICE AND A SEGREGATED ARMY, ATTENDED U.S. ARMY BASIC AT CAMP LEE, VIRGINIA. STAGING FROM CAMP SHANKS, NEW YORK DEPARTED NEW YORK CITY PORT OF EMBARKATION FOR THE EUROPEAN THEATER. LANDED AT GLASGOW SCOTLAND AND MOVED INTO STAGING FOR D-DAY AT WESTBURY ENGLAND. AFTER LANDING ON UTAH BEACH, ASSIGNED TO SUPPORT 105 AND 240S PROVIDING PROTECTIVE 'ACK-ACK' AIRCOVER FOR U.S. FORCES. ORDERED TO GENERAL SIMPSON'S 9TH ARMY, 784TH TANK(HEAVY) BATTALION SERVING IN HOLLAND. PARTICIPATED IN THE CAMPAIGN TO THE MAAS RIVER IN HOLLAND AND CONTINUED COMBAT IN GERMANY WITH THE FIRST U.S. ARMY IN THE DRIVE TO THE ROHR RIVER. HIS UNIT DROVE THE BATTLE INTO COLOGNE AND BEYOND THE RHINE. AFTER GERMANY'S SURRENDER MAY 7, 1945 HAD ENOUGH POINTS TO RETURN HOME FROM EUROPEAN THEATER THROUGH NEW YORK AND SEPARATED HONORABLY AT CAMP FANNIN, TEXAS. AWARDED FOR CAMPAIGNS & SUPPORT OF THE RED BALL EXPRESS THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 4 BRONZE BATTLE STARS, GOOD CONDUCT, WWII VICTORY MEDAL, HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON(RUPTURED DUCK) AND 6 GOLD OVERSEAS BARS. U.S. SERIAL NUMBER: 38 541841.