PVT Earle F. Williams Jr.

Today we honor and remember PVT Earle F. Williams Jr. of the 101st Airborne Division.

Private (PVT) Earle Franklin Williams Jr. of George Company, 3rd Battalion, 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment (PIR), was born in Baldwin, Douglas County, Kansas, to Earle F. and Winifred (Pardee) Williams on May 13, 1917. He had a brother, Richard J. Williams, who served in the 5th Army during WWII. Richard fought in the European Theatre of Operations, and besides several other medals, he was a recipient of the Purple Heart Medal with Oakleaf Cluster.

Earle Jr. signed up for the draft at Long Beach, California, on October 16, 1940. He attended Baker University in Baldwin City, Kansas, but was unemployed when he registered for the draft.

Before his enlistment, Earle Jr. served as a sergeant in Company K of the California State Guard. After graduating from the School of Line and Staff, offered for Non-Commissioned Officers at Camp Hopkins, he entered the U.S. Army in Los Angeles, California, on December 12, 1942.

Pvt. Williams volunteered for paratroop duty, and after receiving his wings at Fort Benning, Georgia, he became a paratroop instructor at the Airborne Command at Camp Mackall, near Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He was then assigned to the 501st and traveled overseas with the regiment in January 1944.

On D-Day, June 6, 1944, PVT Earle F. Williams Jr. flew in a C-47 across the Channel toward Normandy. His plane was shot down by German anti-aircraft fire and crashed near Picauville, Normandy, at 0120 hours. The crew and all paratroopers of the stick were killed in action.

Another Screaming Eagle had soared to the ultimate height. 🦅

PVT Earle Williams Jr. died at the age of 27. He was posthumously awarded a Bronze Star Medal and a Purple Heart Medal. After his initial internment in the temporary military cemetery of Blosville, Normandy, at Plot C, Row 3, Grave 49, he was reburied at Oakwood Cemetery, Baldwin City, Douglas County, Kansas, after arriving home in the winter of 1948. May he rest in peace.

Happy Birthday in Heaven, Earle.

Lest we forget. 🇺🇸

The sources used for this article are known to the author and available on request.