Gene H Williams
- Family History
- Military history
- Extra information
- Photographs
Lt. Gene H. Williams was an officer in the 508th, 3rd Battalion, HQ Company. He was assigned as the Assistant Leader of the Mortar Platoon. He was killed in action in Pretot, France on June 20, 1944.
The combat photos were discovered after Williams' family found the undeveloped film still in his camera when the lieutenant's personal effects were returned to them.
Lt. Williams' wife gave birth to twin sons on June 8th, just two days after the 'D'-Day invasion. Word only reached Lt. Williams' unit after he died and he never had the pleasure of knowing which gender his children were. Perhaps he even did not know that his wife had given birth to twins.
The body of Gene Williams was returned to the United States after the war and he is buried in Tower Height cemetery in West Frankfurt, Franklin County, Illinois. In the same grave lie the body of his father who lost an eye in September 1914 during the First Battle of the Marne so, presumably, was British or French. An uncle, also a Great War veteran, is interred in the same grave.
Gene Williams was awarded the Bronze Star PLC and Purple Heart.
Grave Reference: D 10 49
Unknown
Gene H Williams
Courtesy of Gene Williams' family and the 82nd Airborne Association.
Gene H Williams on Wollaton Park
Courtesy of Gene Williams' family and the 82nd Airborne Association.
508 PIR troopers at rest in Normandy
Photo: Gene Williams. Courtesy of Gene Williams' family and the 82nd Airborne Association.