World War II Honoree
World War II Veteran
Jack M. Williams
Branch of Service
U.S. Navy
Hometown
Upper Montclair, New Jersey
Honored By
Robert S. Cox
SERVED IN THE AMERICAN THEATER, INCLUDING AT THE NAVAL AIR STATION IN NORMAN, OKLAHOMA IN 1942. SERVED AS A AIRCRAFT CARRIER-BASED TORPEDO BOMBER PILOT IN THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER DURING THE WAR. ASSIGNED TO TORPEDO SQUADRON ONE ABOARD THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER USS YORKTOWN (CV-10) IN 1944. PARTICIPATED IN THE BATTLE OF THE PHILIPPINE SEA ('MARIANAS TURKEY SHOOT') IN JUNE, 1944, AND THE INVASIONS OF SAIPAN AND GUAM AND TINIAN IN THE MARIANA ISLANDS FROM JUNE-AUGUST, 1944. NEXT, FLEW FROM THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER USS BENNINGTON (CV-20) AGAINST MILITARY AND INDUSTRIAL TARGETS IN JAPAN. WAS MOST PROUD OF MAKING SUPPLY DROPS TO PRISONER OF WAR CAMPS IN THE MOUNTAINS OF JAPAN. FLEW IN THE LEAD SQUADRON OF THE VICTORY AIR PARADE OVER THE FORMAL SURRENDER CEREMONIES ABOARD THE BATTLESHIP USS MISSOURI (BB-63) IN TOKYO BAY ON SEPTEMBER 2, 1945. AWARDED GOLD NAVAL AVIATOR WINGS, AIR MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. ALSO AWARDED THE PHILIPPINE LIBERATION MEDAL FOR SERVICE IN THE LIBERATION OF THE PHILIPPINES. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AND ISSUED THE WWII HONORABLE DISCHARGE LAPEL PIN.