2LT Jack L. Williamson
Source: Appleton in WWII (c/o Jacob Paltzer)
Second Lieutenant (2LT) Jack L. Williamson of Able Battery, 907th Glider Field Artillery Battalion (GFAB), 101st Airborne Division, was born in Appleton, Outagamie County, Wisconsin, to Irving and Delma H. (Sorensen) Williamson on November 17, 1921. Jack had two younger brothers, Eugene A. and Clark I. Williamson.
His brother Eugene served as a first sergeant during WWII and received the Bronze Star Medal and the Purple Heart.
Jack enlisted in the U.S. Army in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on August 26, 1942, and received his training as an artillery airborne observer at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, where the Field Artillery School trains its own fixed-wing pilots as well as the field artillery spotters.
Jack married Theodora Ann van den Heuvel in Kansas on July 24, 1943.
On September 24, 1944, during Operation Market Garden, the Germans attempted to seize Koevering to cut the highway between Eindhoven and Nijmegen, the logistical route for the Allied forces trying to reach Arnhem. The book “Hell’s Highway” by George Koskimaki describes what happened to Lieutenant Williamson on that pivotal day.
“In the meantime, LT John Sherry and LT Jack Williamson were up in their Piper Cub L-4 observation plane, spotting for the artillery supporting the 501st in Eerde. Not realizing the enemy was so close to the main highway, the pilot was making low sweeping passes over and along the highway when the plane was brought down by small-arms fire. Both artillery officers were killed in the crash.”
Another two Screaming Eagles had soared to the ultimate height. 🦅
Source: Find a Grave (c/o Jacob Paltzer)
On September 24, 1944, Lieutenant Jack Williamson died at age 22. He was initially buried at the temporary U.S. Military Cemetery of Son in the Netherlands, where he was laid to rest in Plot B, Row 3, Grave 53. On June 14, 1948, his body was exhumed and prepared for his journey home. He traveled by truck from Margraten, the Netherlands, to Antwerp, Belgium, then crossed the Atlantic Ocean aboard the USAT Haiti Victory. He arrived in Appleton by train and is buried forever in Highland Memorial Park in his hometown of Appleton. May he rest in peace.
Happy Birthday in Heaven, Jack.
Lest we forget. 🇺🇸
Sources:
Family Search
Hell’s Highway by George Koskimaki