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732. Pensacola's November Loss 11-9-1943 WWII

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Updated: Feb 28, 2022

US Army Private William Williams was born in Pensacola, Florida on January 7, 1908, the son of Hezekiah "Hozzie" Williams (1875-) and Alice Powell (1878-1962). Alice was born in Pensacola and married Hozzie in 1894, resulting in eight surviving children born between 1897 and 1918. His father would support the family in a variety of ways beginning as a "bayman" prior to 1900. By 1910, he was already a fireman with the City of Pensacola with the family home at 532 East Garden Street. Six years later he was a Captain in the Fire Department with a new family home at 1528 East Wright Street. For whatever reason, he changed his occupation by becoming a machinist at a local shipyard in 1919. He would pass away by 1927 with Alice staying on in the family home with their younger children. In 1930, her son William was contributing to the family support as a "mixer" in a local bakery. Ten years later, he was a laborer for the Felton Field Construction Co. while earning $988.00 per year. Five years later, Alice was still a widow and living at 2015 W. Gonzalez Street with her daughter Ethel Flowers and her daughter's family.


With the war with Germany raging in Europe, most American's felt it was only a matter of time before the United States became involved. Finally, William enlisted on December 12, 1942, and was sent to Camp Blanding, Florida for processing and orientation. After basic training he was assigned to the 135th Infantry Regiment that was attached to the 34th Infantry Division. It is unknown exactly when William joined his regiment but his division was sent to Ireland in January 1942 before being transported to North Africa in November. There, they fought in French Algeria before engaging in Tunisia where they defeated the Axis forces. They would miss the invasion of Sicily but stormed ashore at Salerno on September 9, 1943. For the next two months the regiment had their hands full driving the Germans northward.


On November 7th, the 135th Regiment collected in the valley southeast of Roccaravindola and proceeded up the road to the Italian town of Montaquila. The 135th spearheaded the attack on the morning of November 8th and after fierce fighting captured the town together with Hill 864 to the west. On November 9th, the 168th Regiment seized the high ground in the forks of the Ravindola River so they could protect the left flank of the 135th Regiment in the heavy fighting. The attack was so successful that the enemy fled so quickly from this area they left their evening meal still on the table. And it was in this attack that Pensacolian Private William Williams was fatally wounded in action with his subsequent death on November 9, 1943.


His body was collected with the other American dead and transported to the grave registration company for identification and burial. Today Private Williams rests peacefully in the Sicily-Rome Military Cemetery in Nettuno, Italy. In the meantime, his mother was notified that her son had been killed and was buried overseas. After the war, she chose to leave him buried there side by side with his comrades rather than have him disinterred and brought home. Alice would join her son in death on September 13, 1962 and buried in the Pfeiffer's Mill Cemetery, Pensacola, Escambia County, Florida.












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