Edward Thomas Williams

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Edward Thomas Williams
Bronze Star

Edward Thomas Williams (1901–1973) was a

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
.

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

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

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

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

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. ^ a b 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. 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. ^ a b "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 Archived October 27, 2020, at the Wayback Machine, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

External links

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