Williams, James T. II (1914-1966) War Department Messageform
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC09587.213 Author/Creator: Williams, James T. II (1914-1966) Place Written: Selfridge Field, Michigan Type: Typed document signed Date: 15 December 1943 Pagination: 1 p. ; 26.5 x 20 cm. Order a Copy
Birthday message sent from James T. Williams Army Air Base Selfridge Field, Michigan to "Sis". Williams writes that there are no birthday cards so he sent the closest thing he could find. Most likely to his sister Geraldine Williams, whose birthday was in December.
James T. Williams II
James T. Williams II (sometimes called James T. Williams Jr. or James Williams Jr.) was born November 1, 1914 in Roanoke, Virginia. He worked as a janitor and a schoolteacher before his marriage to Geraldine Pinn on December 29th, 1941, in Lynchburg, Virginia. He had a passion for music and in his spare time worked as a choral director (GLC09587.212). He enlisted in the military on June 25th, 1943. By December of that year, he was at Selfridge, Michigan (see GLC09587.213). He was promoted to Sergeant early in 1944. Later that year, he served at Tuskegee, where he was also the director of the Glee Club (GLC09587.216). There are no records of him serving as a pilot, but he was trained as an aviation officer. His first child, Karen Varnelle Williams, was born July 9th, 1945, while he was still serving at Tuskegee. He may have had a son named Harry. He died in Tuskegee, Alabama, on December 21st, 1966.
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