Lieutenant Colonel John Oliver Williams O-17300,

Lieutenant Colonel John Oliver Williams O-17300, US Army KIA. He was the son of Dr. Henry Eugene Williams and Mrs. Jenny Williams of Pine Bluff Arkansas was born at Pine Bluff November 20, 1903. He attended Pine Bluff High School, the University of Arkansas, and was a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, with the class of 1928. In 1930 Colonel Williams marred Annina Bond of San Antonio, Texas, and they had three children, John Oliver, Jr., Nancy Ray, and Judith Ann Williams. He served at Fort Crook, Nebraska; Brooks Field, Texas; Fort Sam Houston, Texas; Fort Davis, Panama Canal Zone, and Fort Benning, Georgia. He saw almost five years of service in the Panama Canal Zone before joining the 3rd Infantry Division in December, 1941. In October, 1942, he sailed with the division for the invasion of North Africa and served as regimental executive officer serving in headquarters company of the 7th Infantry Regiment the Third Infantry Division. Colonel Williams fought throughout the Tunisian campaign and then entered the Sicilian campaign and was killed in action near Agrigenton, Sicily, on July 15, 1943, while on a patrol in enemy territory, at the age of 39. He was Awarded the Presidential Unit Citation (PUC) Combat Infantry Badge (CIB), Bronze Star Medal (BSM), American Defense Medal, American Campaign Medal, European Theater of Operations Campaign Medal with 3 battle stars (ETO), World War Two Victory Medal and was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart Medal (PHM). His remains were returned to the united states in 1949.

1- The FIGHTING MEN ARKANSAS
2- U.S., Headstone Applications for Military Veterans, 1925-1963