World War II Honoree

James C. Williams

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Portland, Oregon

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

Rank: Seaman First Class. Inducted into the United States Navy October 12, 1939 at Portland, Oregon, with recruit training at the U.S. Naval Training Station San Diego, California. Upon his graduation from boot camp, he was transferred to the USS Oklahoma Battleship, BB-37 for duty as an on-the-job trainee, and based at Pearl Harbor, Territory of Hawaii. Sunday Morning, December 7, 1941 the Emperor of Japan and his Naval Aviators launched their well-planned attack on the U.S. Fleet at Pearl Harbor and other military installations on Oahu. The Oklahoma along with her shipmates lay moored on Ford Island, sustained multiple torpedo hits during the ensuing attack, causing the Battlewagon to capsize. Reported missing in action or buried at sea succeeding the attack and the Battle-of-Pearl Harbor took his life. In remembrance of the brave, his name is permanently inscribed in the tablets of the missing, memorialized at Honolulu Memorial Location: Honolulu, Hawaii. In his Memory and Honor, a cenotaph memorial has been placed at the Willamette National Cemetery Portland, Oregon. This American Patriot was awarded the Purple Heart posthumously, for his ultimate sacrifice in defense of his country.