Private Samuel T. Williams
Private First Class Samuel T. Williams: 291st Infantry Regiment, 75th Infantry Division
According to U.S. Army records, Private Samuel T. Williams, born in 1922, was a native of Lake County, Florida.[1] He enlisted on October 24, 1942, in Gainesville while attending the University of Florida (UF) during his freshmen year. According to UF records, Pvt. Williams moved from Eustis to Gainesville in 1941 or 1942 to attend the university with an undeclared major.[2] After the United States entered into World War II, Pvt. Williams enlisted in the Army and joined the 291st Infantry Regiment of the 75th Infantry Division. His unit deployed to Europe, where Pvt. Williams was killed in action on February 3, 1945.[3]
On December 24, 1942, shortly after Pvt. Williams enlisted, the 75th Infantry Division was constituted officially activated on April 15, 1943 at Fort Leonard Wood, near St. Robert, Missouri.[4] In November of 1944, the 75th Infantry Division and its accompanying regiments arrived in Britain for a short training period. The 75th was then sent to France in December, on the eve of the Battle of the Bulge, or the Second Ardennes Offensive. The 291st Regiment went to the front and entered into defensive combat by December 23, 1944. The division took part in relieving the 82nd Airborne Division, and by mid-January, he, along with the division, took part in several operations which liberated several towns near the Salm River.[5]
Following the Ardennes Offensive the 291st Infantry Regiment went to the Alsace-Lorraine region and took part in the Battle of the Colmar Pocket. By February 1, 1945, Pvt. Williams' division was assigned to assist the French First Army in liberating the Alsace-Lorraine region and took part in a series of operations in the region. On February 3, 1945, the 75th Infantry Division launched an attack with the town of Wolfgantzen as its primary objective. This principle effort was made by Pvt. Williams' regiment and during the advance of 300 yards over open ground, Pvt. Samuel T. Williams was killed in action on February 3, 1945.[6]
Pvt. Williams received a Purple Heart for his sacrifice during the Battle of the Colmar Pocket.[7] He was laid to rest in the Epinal American Cemetery and Memorial in Dinozé, France, at the age of approximately 23. He was one of 817 individuals of the 75th Infantry Division that was killed in action during the division's 93 days of active combat duty.[8] It is currently unknown if Pvt. Williams is survived by any family, as he was single and lacked dependents along with little information following his death.