Grave marker for 1st Lt. Gene H. Williams in the family plot in Tower Height cemetery in West Frankfurt (Franklin County), Illinois
 . The family brought his body back from France after the war.
   In this same plot lies Lt. Williams' father who lost an eye September 1914 during WW-I in the first battle of the Marne.
  Also in repose within this plot is an Uncle who was a WW-I veteran, as well as his Grandfather and Grandmother.

Lt. Williams was killed in action on June 20, 1944 and was awarded the Purple Heart.

   Each year the twin sons of Lt. Gene Williams leave a poster at the Washington DC WWII Memorial in front of the Paratrooper Bronze to honor the father they never knew but have never forgotten.
   Lt. Gene Williams' twin sons Gene and Jack are in their Vietnam gear on left...a Special Forces friend from Vietnam is on the right

Jack Williams wrote an extensive six-page article about the 508th Pathfinders, including his father, Lt. Gene Williams.   The article was published in the Special Forces Association Sentinel, April 2017 edition and begins on page 5.

Normandy Monument

  An email received from Jack Williams, son of Lt. Williams, read:

   "The story is... my brother and I contacted Dominique Francois, author, about putting a plaque in Pretot in memory of Lt. Gene H, Williams, KIA there during the attack on 20 June 1944.  He contacted the village mayor, and that gentleman, M. Renaud, responded that any such plaque needed to be approved by Paris.  It ultimately transpired that the plaque would be attached to a stele paid for by village funds, dedicated to the entire 3rd battalion. It is quite amazing that such a memorial has been approved and a dedication planned on such short notice.   A rough approximation of the Gene Williams plaque is attached.  The stele itself will be engraved honoring the battalion reading as follows (in French):

" En hommage aux hommes du 3ème Bataillon du 508ème Régiment de Parachutistes de la 82ème Division aéroportée qui participèrent à la libération de Prétot le 21 juin 1944"

[jumpmaster Note: "In tribute to the men of the 3rd Battalion of the 508th Parachute Regiment of the 82nd Airborne Division who participated in the liberation of Prétot on June 21, 1944"