ARRIVES IN AFRICA
Staff Sgt. Marvin J. Williams, an engineer aboard a Liberator bomber, has arrived safely overseas and is stationed in Africa, according to word received here by his wife. Sergeant Williams was formerly stationed at Muroc, Cal., where he completed advanced training the first of this year.
Source: Daily Freeman Journal, Webster City, IA - Feb. 14, 1944
SGT. WILLIAMS SAVED FRIEND
Webster City Gunner With 15th Army Air Force in Italy.
15th AAF In Italy—After this war is over Staff Sgt. Arthur R. Osborne, 30-year old aerial gunner, wants to take Tech. Sgt. Marvin J. Williams, of Webster City, Iowa, back to his home at Corpus Christi, Texas.
He wants to introduce him to the family and tell them how Sergeant Williams, a 23-year old gunner engineer, saved his life while they were flying in a 15th Army Air force B-24 Liberator bomber on a bombing mission over Bucharest, Rumania.
Sergeant Osborne, flying as an aerial photographer on the mission, became unconscious when his oxygen mask sprung a leak. Sergeant Williams, glancing back saw the photographer slumped over his camera and, grabbing an oxygen tank from the wall of the plane, hurried to his side.
The oxygen slowly brought him back to consciousness and in a few minutes he was back on his feet.
Both men have more than 20 combat missions to their credit.
Source: Daily Freeman Journal, May 20, 1944
SGT. WILLIAMS IS CASUALTY
W. C. Aerial Engineer Was Lost of Mission Over Austria.
Technical Sgt. Marvin J. Williams, 23, son of Mr. and Mrs. Virgil S. Williams of Webster City, an aerial engineer aboard a Liberator bomber, has been reported missing in action over Austria since May 10, his parents and his wife, also of this city, have been notified by the war department.
Holder of the Air Medal and two Oak leaf clusters for meritorious achievement, Sergeant Williams was just last week commended for bravery in a special dispatch to the Freeman-Journal from 15th army air force headquarters. While on a bombing mission over Bucharest, Romania, he saved the life of a fellow crew member who had become unconscious when his oxygen mask was damaged.
Wrote Letter May 9
The Webster City serviceman was last heard from in a letter written May 9, in which he stated he was feeling fine and was in the best of health. He had completed 26 missions over enemy territory from his Italian air base.
In the service since October, 1942, Sergeant Williams had been overseas since January of this year. He had received training in aircraft maintenance and flexible gunnery before being transferred to foreign duty. A staff sergeant at that time, he was promoted to technical sergeant in April.
Presented Medal
A special release from the 15th AAF headquarters in Italy, received here Sunday by the Freeman-Journal, gave details of the presentation of the Air Medal to Sergeant Williams. The decoration, made between bombing missions on nazi installations in Germany and the occupied countries was presented by Major Gen. Nathan F. Twining, commanding general of the 15th air force.
Sergeant Williams was a crew member in a Liberator bombardment group commanded by Col. Thomas W. Steed of Etowah, Tenn.
Source: Daily Freeman Journal, Webster City, IA - May 29, 1944
LIST WILLIAMS AMONG KILLED
Webster City Sergeant Was Formerly Missing in Action.
Hamilton county had another gold star on its service flag Tuesday following receipt here Monday of a war department telegram stating that Tech. Sgt. Marvin J. Williams, 23, of this city, was killed in action May 10, on a bombing mission over Austria.
Sergeant Williams, son of Mr. and Mrs. Virgil S. Williams, was formerly listed as missing in action, but the war department message received by his wife, the former Lila Mae Bever, stated it had been definitely ascertained the aerial engineer-gunner had been killed.
When last heard from in a letter written May 9, the sergeant had completed 26 missions over enemy territory from his Italian base as a crew member in a Liberator bombardment group of the 15th air force.
Sergeant Williams held the air medal and two Oak Leaf clusters for meritorious achievement and was commended for bravery in saving the life of a fellow crew member whose oxygen mask was damaged.
In the service since October, 1942, he had been overseas since January. He had received training in aircraft mechanics and flexible gunnery before being transferred to overseas duty.
Source: Daily Freeman Journal, June 24, 1944
Burial Rites For Sgt. Williams
Military rites for T. Sgt. Marvin J. Williams, who was killed in action in World War II, will be held at 2 p.m. Monday at the Foster funeral home with the Rev. J. A. Farnham officiating.
Burial will be in the Graceland cemetery.
Marvin J. Williams, son of Virgil S. and Helen Weir Williams, was born May 28, 1921, in Austin, Ind. He was three years old when he came with his parents to Iowa, locating on a farm southwest of Webster City. He received his elementary schooling in the rural schools southwest of Webster City, later attending Lincoln high school and being graduated with the class of 1938. He entered the service in October, 1942, and was sent overseas in January, 1944.
An aerial engineer aboard a Liberty bomber, Sgt. Williams was killed in action May 10, 1944, being first reported missing in action over Austria. He was holder of the air medal and two oak leaf clusters for meritorious achievement. He was commended for bravery in a special dispatch to the Freeman-Journal from the 15th army air force headquarters. While on a bombing mission over Bucharest, Romania, he saved the life of a fellow crew member who had become unconscious when his oxygen mask was damaged. He had completed 26 missions over enemy territory from his Italian air base.
He was united in marriage Oct. 11, 1942, to Miss Lila Bever of Woolstock, who is now Mrs. Bruce Hunter of Woolstock. He is also survived by his father and step-mother, Mr. and Mrs. Virgil S. Williams of Mallard, Iowa; three brothers, Merrill, of Webster City; Gerald of Webster City and Raymond, of Mallard. His mother died in 1945.
Source: Daily Freeman Journal, December 6, 1951
Marvin James Williams, Tech Sgt. U.S. Army Air Corps - MIA/KIA
Marvin James Williams was born in May 28, 1921 to Virgil and Helen Weir Williams. He died May 10, 1944. He was buried in Graceland Cemetery, Webster City, IA.
He was reported missing in action over Austria on May 10, 1944 and later declared killed in action on that date. He was an aerial engineer aboard a Liberator bomber and was awarded the Air Medal and two oak leaf clusters for meritorious achievement.
Birth: May 28, 1921
Scott County
Indiana, USA
Death: May 10, 1944
Wiener Neustadt
Wiener Neustadt Stadt
Lower Austria (Niederösterreich), Austria
Son of Virgil and Helen Weir Williams.
Marvin served as a Technical Sergeant & Gunner on B-24H #41-28894, 747th Bomber Squadron, 456th Bomber Group, U.S. Army Air Force during World War II.
He resided in Hamilton County, Iowa prior to the war.
He enlisted in the Army Air Corps on October 23, 1942 at Camp Dodge, Herrold, Iowa. He was noted, at the time of his enlistment, as being employed in the production of grain-mill products and also as Married.
Marvin was "Killed In Action", while on a bombing mission, when his B-24 was shot down by German Anti-Aircraft and crashed near Wiener Neustadt, Austria during the war.
He was awarded the Air Medal and the Purple Heart.
He is known to be interred somewhere in Iowa.
Sources:
Daily Freeman Journal, Webster City, IA
ancestry.com
