World War II Honoree

Bill T. Williamson

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Tulsa, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

SERVED SOME 25 MONTHS OVERSEAS IN THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER IN EUROPE, INCLUDING AS A TRUCK DRIVER AND SQUAD LEADER WITH THE 'RED BALL EXPRESS.' PARTICIPATED IN THE NORMANDY, NORTHERN FRANCE, RHINELAND, ARDENNES-ALSACE (BATTLE OF THE BULGE), AND CENTRAL EUROPE CAMPAIGNS. THE 'RED BALL EXPRESS' WAS THE NAME GIVEN TO THE TRUCK-DELIVERY SERVICE ALONG THE SUPPLY ROUTE FROM NORMANDY, FRANCE INLAND TO THE RAPIDLY-ADVANCING ALLIED FORCES. IT BEGAN OPERATIONS IN AUGUST, 1944 AND TRANSPORTED SUPPLIES 24-HOURS A DAY VIA TWO RESERVED PRIORITY ROUTES: ONE FOR INBOUND VEHICLES, ONE FOR OUTBOUND TRAFFIC. IT WAS IN OPERATION FOR SOME FOUR MONTHS UNTIL NORMAL RESUPPLY OPERATIONS BEGAN. AWARDED THE GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, WWII VICTORY MEDAL, AND ARMY OF OCCUPATION MEDAL WITH ‘GERMANY’ CLASP. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AND ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON.