For Williams’ family, Sunday’s services provided a sense of closure they had sought since Williams was declared Missing in Action (MIA) 63 years ago when he was 37 years old.

Williams was born on March 20, 1913, in Autauga County, the son of Louis B. and Elizabeth Williams of Chilton County.
He had 15 siblings, who have all passed.

In 1940, Williams enlisted in the Army at age 27 and served during World War II prior to the Korean War.

As a member of the 8th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division, Williams was a member of the first unit to land on the beaches of Normandy during D-Day on June 6, 1944.

He was wounded a month later in France but rejoined his unit in fighting across Europe until the war ended in 1945.

Williams served with various units in WWII and the Korean War and completed stateside assignments as well as an assignment with the U.S. occupying force in Japan.

He was a member of the 31st Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division during the Korean War, and his unit went ashore during the Inchon Landing to push back the North Korean invasion into South Korea.

After stopping the North Korean advance, Williams’ unit re-formed and received orders to hold at the Chosin Reservoir in North Korea while preparing for a major offensive attack.

On Nov. 27, 1950, several Chinese Divisions overran U.S. Army troops on the eastern shore of the reservoir.
Williams and 2,504 of the 3,288 U.S. soldiers attacked were declared MIA on Dec. 12, 1950.

Since he did not return as a prisoner of war, and his remains were not recovered at the war’s conclusion, Williams was declared Killed in Action (KIA) on Dec. 31, 1953.

His unidentified remains were found on the eastern side of the reservoir, sent back to the U.S. by the Chinese government on Sept. 15, 1954, and buried at the National Military Cemetery in Hawaii along with other unidentified servicemen.