World War II Honoree

Jay Edmund 'Ed' Williams

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Grantsville, Utah

Honored By

Robin Groesbeck

Relationship

Step Daughter

ENLISTED IN THE NAVY IN SEPTEMBER 1943 AT AGE 18. HE SERVED ONBOARD THE DESTROYER USS MASSEY AS YEOMAN 2ND CLASS FROM OCTOBER 1944 UNTIL MAY 1946 WHEN HE WAS HONORABLY DISCHARGED. HE WAS A PLANK OWNER (A MEMBER OF HER FIRST CREW) AND HE AND THE CREW WITNESSED AND SURVIVED KAMIKAZE ATTACKS IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA. DURING ONE ATTACK, MASSEY'S GUNNERS SHOT DOWN 4 ENEMY AIRCRAFT. HE ALSO SERVED IN JAPAN, HAULING MAIL BETWEEN YOKOHAMA AND WAKAYAMA.