Edward Thomas Williams

Edward Thomas Williams (1901–1973) was a lieutenant general in the United States Army. He gained prominence as chief of artillery for the Third United States Army in Europe during World War II, commander of the United States Army Field Artillery Center, and commander of the Fourth United States Army.

Edward Thomas Williams
General Williams as commander of the Field Artillery Center
BornFebruary 6, 1901 (1901-02-06)
Detroit, Michigan
DiedOctober 14, 1973 (1973-10-15) (aged 72)
San Antonio, Texas
Buried
Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery
Allegiance United States
Service/branch United States Army
Years of service1918–1961
Rank Lieutenant general
Commands heldThird United States Army Artillery
United States Army Field Artillery Center
Fourth United States Army
Battles/warsWorld War II
AwardsDistinguished Service Medal
Legion of Merit
Bronze Star

Early life

Williams was born in Detroit, Michigan, on February 6, 1901. He graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1920.[1][2]

Early career
At West Point in 1920

In 1921 Williams graduated from the Field Artillery Basic Course.[3]

Williams served in artillery assignments of increasing rank and responsibility throughout the 1920s and 1930s, including a posting to Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, as a member of the 13th Field Artillery Regiment, assignment to Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, and a position as an instructor at Fort Sill, Oklahoma.[4][5]

In 1939 Williams graduated from the Command and General Staff College.[6]

World War II

Williams served as commander of the Third United States Army Artillery during World War II, taking part in operations throughout Europe after the D-Day invasion and earning the Distinguished Service Medal.[7][8]

Post World War II

From 1950 to 1952 Williams was assigned as deputy chief of staff for operations at the U.S. Army European Command.[9][10]

Williams served as chief of staff for U.S. Army, Europe from 1952 to 1953.[11]

In 1953 Williams was appointed deputy commander of the Third United States Army, serving until 1954.[12]

Williams was then named commander of the United States Army Field Artillery Center, serving from 1954 to 1956.[13][14][15]

In 1956 Williams was named deputy commander of the Continental Army Command, a position he held until 1959.[16][17][18][19]

In 1958 he chaired the Williams Board, which reviewed and recommended changes to the Army's professional education system for officers.[20]

Williams was selected to command the Fourth United States Army in 1959, and he served in this post until his retirement.[21][22][23][24]

While commanding the Fourth Army Williams represented the United States at the funeral of Walter Williams of Texas, who claimed to have been a Confederate soldier and the last living American Civil War veteran.[25]

Retirement and awards

General Williams retired in 1961. His awards and decorations included two Distinguished Service Medals, the Legion of Merit, and the Bronze Star.[26][8]

Death and burial

Williams died on October 14, 1973, in San Antonio, Texas. He was buried at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, Section PA, Site 249-C.[27][1][28]

References
  1. Social Security Death Index
  2. Official U.S. Army Directory, published by U.S. Army Adjutant General, 1949, page 576
  3. Official U.S. Army Directory, published by U.S. Army Adjutant general, 1956, page 912
  4. "Regimental Notes", Field Artillery Journal, January–February 1945, page 75.
  5. U.S. Census entry, Edward T. Williams family, 1930
  6. Official U.S. Army Directory, published by U.S. Army Adjutant General, 1954, page 808
  7. Patton and His Third Army, by Brenton Wallace Greene, 1946, first paperback edition, 2000, page 22
  8. "Recipients of the Army Distinguished Service Medal". Home of Heroes. Archived from the original on May 25, 2012.
  9. Truman Proposes Shift of Generals; Army Commands in Europe and U. S. Affected -- Many High Officers Promoted or Retired Slated for New Posts Abroad, The New York Times, p. 2, June 23, 1950. (subscription required)
  10. Monty Visits EUCOM headquarters, Stars and Stripes, European edition, October 2, 1951.
  11. Former Chiefs of Staff page Archived January 5, 2010, at the Wayback Machine, U.S. Army, Europe web site
  12. Newspaper column, Militarist Oriented, Florida Flambeau Florida State University, Tallahassee, January 22, 1954
  13. "Chiefs of Field Artillery", Field Artillery, July–August 1999, page 43.
  14. "Major to Face Court-Martial". Los Angeles Times. Fort Sill, Oklahoma. AP. November 30, 1954. p. 14. Retrieved December 14, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. "Army Shifting High Officers", The New York Times, November 17, 1955. (subscription required)
  16. "Automation is Adapted by Military". Tri-City Herald. Washington. October 29, 1957. p. 1. Retrieved December 14, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. "Names make news", Time, December 2, 1957.
  18. "Is Graduated". Ludington Daily News. June 26, 1958. p. 3. Retrieved December 14, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. "U.S. to Meet its Allies"; Geneva Talks to Map West's Stand on Surprise Attack", The New York Times, p. 12, November 4, 1958. (subscription required)
  20. Report of the Department of the Army Board to Review Army Officer Schools, February 1966, Volume 1, page 20
  21. "Three Army Chiefs Shifted", The New York Times, p. 4, August 21, 1959. (subscription required)
  22. "John Hussey Dies; Member of F.P.C.; Aide of Power Agency Since '58 -- Stricken at Meeting of Oil Institute in Texas", The New York Times, p. 26, March 18, 1960. (subscription required)
  23. "Pacific Chief of Staff Is Named; First to Come From the Army; Gen. Barnes Chosen -- U.S. Issues List of Command Shifts and Promotions", The New York Times, p.8, December 3, 1960. (subscription required)
  24. Linenthal, Edward Tabor (1993). Sacred Ground: Americans and Their Battlefields, 1993, page 73.
  25. "Nation Pays Last Homage to Confederate Soldier". Hartford Courant. Houston, Texas. AP. December 24, 1959. p. 4. Retrieved December 14, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  26. Official U.S. Army Directory, published by U.S. Army Adjutant General, 1957, page 926.
  27. "Gen. Edward Williams Dies; Patton's Artillery Officer, 72", The New York Times, October 16, 1973.
  28. Nationwide Gravesite Locator, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
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