World War II Honoree

John Robert Williams, Jr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Florence, Alabama

Honored By

Ann Jackson Huckaba, Peggy Williams Marquart, Paul E. Riley

Relationship

Friends

HE SERVED IN THE PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS WITH THE NAVY SUBMARINE SERVICE VESSEL USS BONEFISH SS-223 DURING WWII. AFTER SPENDING 14 MONTHS IN THE PACIFIC AREA OF JAPAN ON FIRST ASSIGNMENT HE WAS BACK IN THE AREA AGAIN. HIS VESSEL WAS PRESUMED MISSING ON JULY 30, 1945 AND HE WAS OFFICIALLY DECLARED DEAD JULY 14, 1946. IT WAS LATER ACCEPTED THAT HIS SHIP WAS SUNK BY JAPANESE DEPTH CHARGE ATTACK JUNE 19, 1945. HE WAS AWARDED MANY RECOGNITIONS FOR OUTSTANDING SERVICE, INCLUDING PURPLE HEART, AND MERITORIOUS CONDUCT RIBBONS.