Gene Herbert Williams was born on October 31, 1922, in West Frankfort, Franklin County, Illinois. He was the son of Jewell Williams and Mayme Green Williams. He was the husband of Mary Tyson. Gene and Mary had twin sons Gene and Jack. He entered the Army in 1942. Gene most likely attended the Infantry Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning, Georgia. He also attended the US Army Jump School at Ft Benning as well. After completion of OCS Gene was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant of Infantry.

After training, he was assigned to the 3rd Platoon Headquarters Company, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment. The 508th PIR trained in the United Kingdom and was assigned to the veteran 82nd Airborne Division in 1944 for Operation Overlord. Williams became a Platoon Leader for a Pathfinder Platoon and was assigned as the Chalk Leader for “Chalk 18”.

2Lt Williams survived the initial jump and combat in Normandy but was killed in action on June 20, 1944, during an attack to seize the village of Prétot, France. Posthumously, Williams was awarded the Purple Heart and other military honors. His remains were later returned to the US and interred at Tower Heights Cemetery in West Frankfort, Illinois.

Source of information: www.facebook.com/The Second World War in Northern Ireland