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Benjamin Bertram Williams, known to his family and
friends as either B. B. or Ben, was born 10 September 1922 in
Mount Carmel, Pennsylvania. His early years were typical of a
young man growing up in a small town during that period. An outstanding
athlete, Ben participated in the usual high school sports at
Mount Carmel High School, from which he graduated. Following
high school, Ben attended Dickinson Jr. College in Williamsport,
Pennsylvania for two years before he fulfilled a lifetime dream
by obtaining an appointment to West Point in 1942 to join the
Class of 1945. The rigors of plebe year took their toll on Ben
academically, and he was turned back to join the Class of 1946.
Ben's classmates from C-I Company recall that as a "recognized
plebe," Ben was a tremendous help, always willing to do
whatever he could to lighten the load on his hapless plebe classmates.
One of his roommates recalls that Ben was a very relaxed cadet
and that nothing seemed to bother him. Academics were always
a problem for him, but he managed to stay ahead of the game with
his easy-going style. His athletic prowess was evident as a cadet.
An injury to some veins in his leg while playing football plebe
year caused him to have to forgo that sport. He was exceptional
as a boxer and wrestler. The coaches in both sports wanted him
to come out for the "A" squad, but he just wasn't interested.
First class year he coached and played intramural football and
won the Corps championship.
As a cadet, Ben displayed the characteristics that were to
stand him in. good stead throughout his career. He was a truly
"nice" person, a dependable, true friend. He was always
willing to go out of his way to help anyone who needed it. As
one of his roommates said, "Ben was well liked and respected
by everyone and for good reason."
Graduation saw Ben go into the Coast Artillery Corps. Two
days after graduation, 6 June 1946, Ben married his high school
sweetheart, Catherine Jane Brown, in Mount Carmel, Pennsylvania.
Ben and Jane started their Army career with the usual schools
at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, and Fort Bliss, Texas, followed by Airborne
training at Fort Benning, Georgia. Ben's first duty, other than
schools, was in the Far East in Guam. He had various unit and
staff assignments there and returned to Fort Bliss in the fall
of 1949 for assignment as an instructor in radar electronics.
Their first child, Valerie, was born at Fort Bliss on Christmas
Eve 1949. Ben's next assignment was back to Fort Sill to attend
the Artillery Officers Advanced Course, It was during this tour
that their son Benjamin Charles (Chucky) was born.
From the Artillery School Ben went
back to Fort Bliss for a short stint as an instructor, and in
the summer of 1953 he was assigned to Korea. That one-year tour
was spent in the 936th Field Artillery Battalion as assistant
S-3 and S-3. While Ben was in Korea, tragedy struck the Williams
family. Their beloved son Chucky died of leukemia. Ben's next
assignment was to Fort Hood, Texas in the summer of 1954. There
he was assigned to the reactivated 4th Armored Division where
he served on all unit and staff levels of the division. A daughter,
Diane, was born while the Williams were at Fort Hood. The year
1956 saw Ben leave for Darmstadt, Germany where he was assigned
to the V Corps Artillery for his entire tour. From Germany, the
Williams went to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas where Ben attended
the Command and General Staff College. Upon graduation, it was
on to Washington, DC for a tour with Department of the Army Research
and Development Directorate in the Pentagon.
While in the DC area, Ben and Jane
bought a house in Fairfax, Virginia. A classmate who lived
near the Williams recalls that Ben was a great family man, a
devoted husband and father, and an all-around participant in
maintaining and improving the household. He remembers that there
were few who could compare to Ben in yard work industriousness.
Through his know-how, pride and hard work the appearance of his
yard was the envy of the neighborhood. He had the adoration of
his daughters and was a great favorite among other children in
the neighborhood as well. Ben was always the hit of the
show in leading impromptu sing-alongs of old favorites.
He had a Little Orphan Annie rendition that convulsed the children
among the classmate family assemblage during that period.
Late in 1963, Ben reported to Fort Hood to command
the 73rd Artillery Battalion, 1st Armored Division. He considered
this assignment as the most rewarding of his career. After two
years at Fort Hood, Ben went to Vietnam for advisor duty in MACV.
From Vietnam Ben was assigned to the Army War College at Carlisle
Barracks, Pennsylvania. He retired from the Army in 1967
as a lieutenant colonel.
Retirement saw the Williams
family head for California. Ben started with Litton Guidance
and Control Systems but in 1969 took a position as production
line director with ITT Gilfillan. In 1974 tragedy again struck
the Williams family--their daughter Valerie was killed in an
automobile accident. Ben became manager for advanced programs
at ITT Gilfillan in 1975. In1977, Ben had a severe heart attack,
followed by unsuccessful heart surgery which resulted in his
death on 21 June 1977. He was survived by h is wife, Jane and
daughter.
The mark of greatness in a
man is probably best attested to by how his friends remember
him. By this criterion, Benjamin Bertram Williams was a great
man. There is a common thread among the remembrances by Ben's
friends. A twinkle in his eyes and the jovial laugh which he
often used to relieve a stressful situation; his sincerity and
seriousness of purpose and his unfailing sense of humor; a diligent
worker in all things; his dedication; his quickness in mastering
a new assignment; his willingness to outwork almost everyone
are some of the traits that marked Ben Williams as a man of character,
a genuine leader and a wonderful person to be around. As one
classmate recalls, "He truly drew people to him."
One close friend and classmate
of Ben visited with him after his heart attack and before the
surgery. In this talk, Ben went into his feelings before Jane
called the ambulance, This talk provided an insight into a truly
strong character. This same friend remarked that Ben would want
his memorial article to be brief and not maudlin.
In keeping with Ben's wishes
the following comments by two classmates aptly sum up the feelings
of his family, friends and classmates. "It was a real joy
and privilege to have known Ben Williams." "B. B. is,
fondly remembered and sorely missed."
'46 Memorial Article Project
and his wife, Jane
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