| Sources |
- [S24] The Newport Plain Talk, (http://www.newportplaintalk.com), 2 Mar 2000.
Gene Cameron obituary
- [S24] The Newport Plain Talk, (http://www.newportplaintalk.com), 28 Oct 2011.
Just Plain Talk: Meet some dogs I know and listen to Junior's war stories
(c)2011 NPT PHOTO BY DAVID POPIEL
Will "Junior" Williams has been living off Indian Creek Road (West Highway 363) for about 60 years. Born July 10, 1920, he has witnessed a lot of changes, good times and bad times but retains a smile. He has an older brother, John A. Williams of Fowlers Grove. Look for the road sign that marks his home.
Author: David Popiel
What must be the first 30-degree weather over the weekend cooled any expectations in our hometown of a warm evening of trick or treating and more cold days are sure to follow.
Before returning to our visit with World War II veteran Will "Junior" Williams, of Indian Creek, let me tell you of some recent visits, folks and things I've seen and heard. And down the road in November you will hear about my visit to Plum Natural where I saw several folks you know well. Also, hiker Glen Lane tells me about his crew's recent trip to the mountains.
Returning to Newport from Morristown on Wednesday morning, I remembered that it was about time to visit Dr. John Chambers, who is one of our sponsors of your TV schedule sections in the Plain Talk. He sponsors TV listings through his veterinary practices: Morristown Animal Hospital and Blue Ridge Veterinary Services. He wasn't at the larger facility off Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway but was in Bybee, and I needed to be there before he left in the early afternoon to take care of medical needs of cattle. He is one of the few highly-experienced large animal doctors in the area. Just after lunch I wandered into Blue Ridge where the good doctor was bent over on his knees listening to a small, older dog's heart and lungs. I sat and waited and in a few minutes a woman who looked real familiar walked in. She was carrying the tiniest, cutest pup, a Chihuahua mix. You know Shannon Lane from Newport Federal Bank. Shannon was cuddling Darla, about a year old and happy to get some more puppy medicine and shots from the veterinarian Dr. Ian O'Connor. You recall that I wrote about him last spring when he joined Dr. Chambers and partner, Dr. Russell Reel. Darla hit the scale hard at two pounds 11 ounces and most of that weight being enthusiasm and anxiety. I'm sure Shannon and Darla will be getting along fine. Ian is working out well, loves Cocke County, and this might be good for the community to have another veterinarian in the future to tend to the growing animal/pet population.
Junior Williams, 91, is the son of the late W.A. Williams married to the former Maggie Potts of Swannsylvania. W.A. lived at Mullins Bottom off Highway 92. They had eight children of whom only Will "Junior" Williams and John A. Williams, 98, are living. The other children were James A., Charles, Sam, and Dave Williams, and daughters Lillian Lane and Bessie Moore. Will was born July 10, 1920 to the farm family. W.A. was also a foreman of the Stokely Brothers farm. It is marked with a state historic marker off 25/70 not far from the Cocke County line. As Junior and I began talking, I quickly learned that his nephew, J.C. Williams, was a greeter at Wal-Mart and many of you knew him before he retired. He is the oldest son of James Williams.
It is impossible for us to imagine life during the Great Depression and before World War II in rural America. You would have to shed most every modern convenience we enjoy to return to that era. By 1940, Junior had enlisted in the Army. Remember that the US did not enter the war already underway in Europe and the Pacific until the bombing of Pearl Harbor Dec. 7, 1941. Junior was like many young Americans not knowing the terror they would face whether in Europe, Africa, Asia or the Pacific, where he met the enemy at Iwo Jima, memorialized by the statue of Marines raising the flag. He vividly remembers the bamboo cane huts he lived in and killing at least eight Japanese in just one skirmish. In another encounter, Japanese had a machine gun mounted on a boxcar expecting to stop an American advance. Junior, as an infantryman, was only carrying an M-1 rifle but managed to surprise the machine gunners and kill all four of them. It wasn't uncommon for both the Americans and Japanese to capture each other's soldiers. The Japanese at times would hide them in caves, and some were fortunate enough to be found and released. He explained the battle in which he was seriously wounded and came close to being killed. After about a month on the island, Junior was in battle and saw one of his friends shot and so called for medics and rushed to aide the wounded soldier. That's when a rifle bullet went through his left shoulder, emerged, striking him in his left check damaging his eye and lodged in his head. Medics were able to get him off the battlefield. It was March 1945 and the end of the war for him. Surgeons were successful in removing the bullet but not to save his eye. For his courage and brush with death he earned a Purple Heart and has been a lifetime member of the Disabled American Veterans. There were some lighter moments during the war such as the time he and buddies came across a cow. None of his buddies knew how to milk a cow and knew Junior had been a farmer. He milked the cow into clean skillets and at least once directed a stream of milk into the mouth of a nearby waiting soldier to everyone's laughter.
Junior has been told that he is the only surviving member of the 41st Infantry Division. Before that year ended along with the war, he was back in Mullins Bottom on the farm again and never strayed far again.
Before the war, as a teenager he married the former Genieva Cameron of Rankin, who was known as a member of the Singing Rankins. She died in Dec. 2004 at age 87. They had six children: Ralph Burnett Sr., Alta McCoig, Johnny Williams, Kenny Williams, Linda Smith, and William Alfred Williams. Ralph was at his Dad's home when we chatted several days ago. You know the family and I've just learned a few connections to folks I know. There's a talented videographer who now teaches at Walter State Community College who helped the Plain Talk with some video. Matthew Lawson is that young man. Ralph's sister Alda's daughter, Tammy, is married to Tim Lawson, a manager at Freeman's Furniture. Tim and Tammy are Matthew's parents. A longtime friend of mine whom I try to chat with whenever visiting at the sheriff's office is Sgt. David Crum. Ralph told me that David is married to his oldest daughter, Julieanne. The family lost a loved one when Ralph's wife of many years, JoyceAnn, died of cancer on August 13.
Although the Williams family is from Jefferson County, but not deep across the line, Junior said he has lived on Indian Creek since 1947 on a large family farm. With six children, they raised cattle, grew tobacco, corn, hay, and made a good life on the 600 acres. He farmed into his 80s before slowing down to full retirement and especially after his wife died. He is thankful for those who assist him, especially the Veteran's Administration and members of Swannsylvania Baptist Church pastored by Mike Hensley.
I doubt that Junior ever had time or took a minute to lament the loss of his left eye and instead worked long and hard for the next 60 years after the war. As Thomas Cutshaw said of him: "There's nothing we could ever do for this man to repay him for what he has done for America and us." So, now I know why that the least anyone could do was name a road in his honor.
He left me with these words: "It was hard work, but I made it. When you hear of me dying, say of me, 'You are headed to a better place'."
- [S112] Census, 1930.
Name: William C Williams
Event: Census
Event Date: 1930
Event Place: District 06, Cocke, Tennessee
Gender: Male
Age: 9
Marital Status: Single
Race: White
Birthplace: Tennessee
Estimated Birth Year: 1921
Immigration Year:
Relationship to Head of Household: Son
Father's Birthplace: Tennessee
Mother's Birthplace: Tennessee
Enumeration District Number: 0015
Family Number: 381
Sheet Number and Letter: 20A
Line Number: 5
NARA Publication: T626, roll 2238
Film Number: 2341972
Digital Folder Number: 4548152
Image Number: 00333
Household Gender Age
Parent William A Williams M 46
Parent Maggie Williams F 48
Bessie J Williams F 21
Lillian V Williams F 19
Charles F Williams M 18
John A Williams M 16
Jesse B Williams M 13
David J Williams M 11
William C Williams M 9
- [S24] The Newport Plain Talk, (http://www.newportplaintalk.com), 28 Aug 2014.
Mr. Will A. Williams, Jr., age 94, of Dandridge went to be with the Lord on Tuesday morning, August 26, 2014.
Mr. Williams was a World War II veteran and a lifetime member of DAV Chapter 102.
He was preceded in death by his wife of sixty years Geneva Aseneta Cameron Williams, parents W. A. and Maggie Potts Williams, Sr., son Kenneth Williams, six brothers and two sisters.
He is survived by his daughters Alta (Charles) McCoig of Dandridge and Linda Smith of Blount County, daughter-in-law Pauline Williams of Washburn; sons Ralph and the late Joyce Ann Williams of Dandridge; Johnny (Jamie) Williams of Sevierville and William (Sandy) Williams of Morristown; thirty-two grandchildren, thirteen great-grandchildren, and nine great-great-grandchildren. Additional survivors include a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
A special thanks to his beloved church family at Swannsylvania Baptist Church.
The funeral will be held at 2:00 p.m. Friday, August 29, 2014, at Swannsylvania Baptist Church with Pastor Mike Hensley officiating. The casket will lie in state from 1:00—2:00 p.m. prior to the services. The family will receive friends from 6:00—8:00 p.m. Thursday, August 28, 2014, at Costner-Maloy Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Alzheimer's Association at alz.org or to Swannsylvania Baptist Church, 921 Swannsylvania Road, Dandridge, TN 37725.
Arrangements by Costner-Maloy
www.costnermaloyfuneralhome.com
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