Date of birth:

March 28th, 1921 (Butler/Illinois, United States)

Date of death:

November 8th, 1944 (Schmidt/Rhineprovince, Germany)

Buried on:

American War Cemetery Henri-Chapelle
Plot: C. Row: 15. Grave: 41.

Nationality:

American

Charles Williams was born on 28th March 1921 in Butler, Illinois as theson of Charles and Bertha Williams. He was the oldes child and had two younger sisters, Lorena and Betty. After his education he worked with the Civilian Conservation Corps, a work program for young men from unemployed families and later was hired as section crew for the New York Central Railroad. On 24th August 1940 he married Irene Brown and becam the father of het daughter Marla Mae.

He was drafted on 14th December 1943 with service number 36779848 and first was stationed at the Infantry Replacement Training Centre in Anniston, Alabama and was placed in the Fort McClellan. After his training and a short leave, he was send to Europe. Here he was assigned to K Company, 3rd Battalion, 112th Infantry Regiment, 28th Infantry Division, First U.S. Army. With this unit he fought his way through France and was part of the victory parade in Paris. On the 1st November 1944, the Division was appointed for the push through the Hürtgen Forest in Germany. 2nd November, 3rd Battalion was assigned to attack the village of Vossenack. A fierce battle unfolded and on 3rd November, K Company was to be shifted to a defensive position between the villages of Schmidt and Kommerscheidt. On 4th November, there the Germans launched a counterattack following a immense fire of Artillery barrages by the 116.Panzer-Division and the 89.Infanterie-Division. Part of the 3rd Battalion managed to escape to Kommerscheidt, but a large part of the K and L Company, among them Charles Williams were cut off near Schmidt. They fought a fierce battle for four more day’s. 5th November US tanks tried to releave the men but were pinned down in the mud. On 8th November a renewed German attack forced the US troops near Schmidt to be withdrawn from Schmidt and Kommerscheidt. The remnant of K and L Company managed to escape, but Private First Class Charles Williams Jr. Was not among the men that managed to get away. It is not known what happened to the trapped men form the two companies. German reports state that 133 men were captured and the rest destroyed. The men missing were intially stated as Missing-in-Action.

Charles wife received an official announcement of him being missing in action on 26th November 1944. In March 1945 a letter was received from the Adjutant General that Charles was killed in action in Germany. It took two more years before the family found out what happend and where Charles was killed. Only after several enquieries, the family received a letter from the War Department on 17th September 1946. Only then it was discoverd that he died of his wounds inflicted by artillery or mortar fire.

Charles Williams was also entitled to wear the ribbon for the Meritious Unit Citation that was awarded to the 28th Infantry Division.

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Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Private First Class

Unit:

Company K, 3rd Battalion, 112th Infantry Regiment, 28th Infantry Division "Keystone", U.S. Army

Awarded for heroic and meritorious service while engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Private First Class

Unit:

Company K, 3rd Battalion, 112th Infantry Regiment, 28th Infantry Division "Keystone", U.S. Army

Awarded for being wounded in any action against an enemy of the United States.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Privat First Class

Unit:

Company K, 3rd Battalion, 112th Infantry Regiment, 28th Infantry Division "Keystone", U.S. Army

Awarded for being killed in action as a result of an act against the enemy.

Second award received as Oak Leaf Cluster for on the ribbon of the first Purple Heart.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Private First Class

Unit:

Company K, 3rd Battalion, 112th Infantry Regiment, 28th Infantry Division "Keystone", U.S. Army

Awarded for service in the armed forces of the United States in geographical theater areas of Europe, North Africa, or the Middle East.

Received with 2 Bronze Service Stars for battle participation
in the Northern France and Rhineland Campaigns.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Private First Class

Unit:

Company K, 3rd Battalion, 112th Infantry Regiment, 28th Infantry Division "Keystone", U.S. Army

Awarded for service in the United States military for members who served on active duty between December 7, 1941 and December 31, 1946.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Private First Class

Unit:

Company K, 3rd Battalion, 112th Infantry Regiment, 28th Infantry Division "Keystone", U.S. Army

Awarded for being personally present and under hostile fire while serving in an assigned infantry or special forces primary duty, in a unit actively engaged in ground combat with the enemy.

• Photo 1: Kevin D. Klump
• Photo 2: Mia van den Berg
• - In Proud Remembrance
  

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