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name
WILLIAMS, James Marion Jr "Jimmie" - Date of
birth
1 December 1925 -
Age
19 - Place of
birth
Williamstown, Grant County, Kentucky -
Hometown
Carrollton, Carroll County, Kentucky
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
35070328 -
Rank
Private First Class -
Function
Messenger -
Unit
F Company,
2nd Battalion,
355th Infantry Regiment,
89th Infantry Division
-
Awards
Bronze Star,
Purple Heart
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
30 April 1945 - Place of
death
In the vicinity of Niederwurschnitz, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| B | 4 | 7 |
Immediate family
-
Members
James M. Williams (father)
Martha (Strode) Williams (mother)
Marie Williams (sister)
Iris V. Williams (sister)
More information
Pfc James M. Williams Jr. attended Columbia Military Academy for 1.5 years and worked for his father at the Lincoln Inn in his hometown.He enlisted at Fort Thomas, Newport Kentucky on 1 March 1944. He trained at Camp Wolters, Texas and Camp Butner, North Carolina. He was sent overseas on 27 December 1944.
Pfc Williams was part of a motorized reconnaissance patrol. When reaching a road block at the edge of the town, they dismounted. As the patrol reached the first house it received heavy enemy rifle and automatic weapons fire from nearby houses. Pfc Williams spotted an enemy machine gun which was impeding the progress of his comrades. With utter disregard of his own personal safety, he voluntarily crawled alone across an exposed field, and although drawing severe fire he silenced the weapon by single-handedly killing five of its crew. As he returned to his comrades he was killed by enemy fire from the town. For this action he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal posthumously.
Source of information: Leo Minne, Terry Hirsch, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov - WWII Enlistment Record, www.ancestry.com 1930/1940 Census, http://www.89infdivww2.org/combat/index.htm, WWII Draft Card
Photo source: www.findagrave.com - Des Philippet, Jim Jacobus