World War II Honoree
Killed in World War II
Hugh Williams, Jr.
Branch of Service
U.S. Army
Hometown
Luzerne County, Pennsylvania
Honored By
Orville L. Kline
RANK: PRIVATE. INDUCTED INTO THE ARMY NOVEMBER 20, 1942 AT WILKES-BARRE, PENNSYLVANIA. SERVED IN THE EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS ASSIGNED TO 331ST INFANTRY REGIMENT, 83RD INFANTRY ‘THUNDERBOLT’ DIVISION ATTACHED TO THE U.S. 3RD ARMY. HE WAS A MEMBER OF THE VAST ARMADA THAT PARTICIPATED IN THE INVASION OF GERMANY’S FORTRESS EUROPE, OPERATION OVERLORD. WHILE EMBARKING FROM HIS LCI ‘LANDING CRAFT INFANTRY’, HE WENT ASHORE ON THE OMAHA BEACH BATTLE OF NORMANDY JUNE 18, 1944 AND ENTERED COMBAT JUNE 25, 1944. KILLED IN ACTION FRIDAY, JULY 7, 1944 DURING THE ASSAULT ON SAINTENY, FRANCE AND IS BURIED IN THE NORMANDY AMERICAN CEMETERY LOCATED AT COLLEVILLE-SUR-MER, FRANCE AND WAS AWARDED THE PURPLE HEART.