Williams at War II

Thomas Richard Williams, the son of Thomas and Agnes Williams, only had two years of high school and was working as a petroleum storage technician or welder, during World War II (WWII), when he enlisted into the army at the rank of private on 16 Mar 1943. At the time of his enlistment, Thomas was listed at 5’ 6” tall. Thomas served in the 556^th Automatic Weapons Battalion, Headquarters Battery, in Europe from 1943 to 1945. During WWII, Thomas lost his right leg. He became an active life member of the Disabled American Veterans, Amputee Chapter 70, and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1810 in Brentwood, Pittsburgh, PA.

Williams at War

Thomas is likely the second from the left in the front row. (From Gilbert Fiero's Collection)

Thomas E. Williams, David’s lastborn, was short and slender with brown hair and blue eyes. In 1910, Thomas was working as a barber’s apprentice and living with his sister Margaret and her husband, Albert Gerwig, at 904 Bingham St, South Pittsburgh.

On 5 June 1917, Thomas was living at 72 13^th St and working as a driver for the Pittsburgh Transfer Company (307 Carson St, Pittsburgh), when he registered for the World War I (WWI) draft. Thomas entered the service on 10 Feb 1918, and served as a wagoner in the 318^th Field Hospital, 80^th Division (“Blue Ridge” Division”), under the command of Major General Adelbert Cronkhite. Thomas would have gone to Camp Lee in Petersburg, VA for training, before embarking at Newport News, VA for France between 17 May and 9 Jun 1918. The 80^th Division took part in Somme Offensive, Meuse Argonne, and Picardy campaigns. In France, the 318^th Field Hospital worked as part of the 305^th Sanitary Train. Thomas received an honorable discharge at Camp Dix, NJ on 9 Jun 1919. His units history indicates that his colleagues referred to him as Little Willie Williams.

318^th Field Hospital, 80^th Division

Wagoneer Patch

318th Baseball Team, Thomas Williams second from left on top row

In 1920, home from the war, Thomas was renting a place at 1211 Bingham St and was working as a janitor at a bathhouse. At the time, his brothers Ivor and David J., and sister Harriett were living with Thomas. Later that year, Thomas lived at rear of 1820 Carson St.

Thomas married Agnes Fresh (b. 4/5 May 1897 in Cambria Co., PA) in 1920 in Pittsburgh. Thomas and Agnes had the following children:

Mary C. Williams, b. 16 Aug 1920, 11 Sep 1920, premature birth at 7.5 mos, buried at South Side Cemetery
Harriet M. b. 12 Dec 1921
Thomas Richard b. 28 Sep 1924

In 1930, Thomas and his family lived in a rental at 1910 Wright Way in South Pittsburgh, for which Thomas paid $18 a month, about $244 in 2014 dollars.  At the time, Thomas was working as a laborer in the frigate yards. When Thomas applied for his WWI service medal, which was approved on 28 Jan 1938, he and his family lived a few doors down at 1924 Wright Way.   Thomas died in Feb 1955.