World War II Honoree

John Horter Williams

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Tulsa, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

SERVED AS A CIVIL ENGINEER WITH THE NAVY CIVIL ENGINEER CORPS DURING THE WAR. THAT ORGANIZATION WAS PART OF THE STAFF CORPS OF THE U.S. NAVY, AND CONSISTED OF BOTH ACTIVE AND NAVAL RESERVE PERSONNEL. SERVED FOR SOME 3 YEARS, INCLUDING IN THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER AS AN OFFICER IN A NAVAL CONSTRUCTION BATTALION (SEABEE) DURING THE WAR. HE PARTICIPATED IN THE INVASION OF IWO JIMA, IN THE BONIN ISLANDS ARCHIPELAGO, IN FEBRUARY, 1945, AND WITNESSED THE RAISING OF THE AMERICAN FLAG ON MOUNT SURIBACHI. THE INITIAL WAVES OF THE INVADING MARINE CORPS FORCE HAD ADVANCED ONLY SOME 20 YARDS FROM THE SURF LINE WHEN HE WENT ASHORE. AWARDED THE AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AND ISSUED THE WWII HONORABLE DISCHARGE LAPEL PIN.