Gerard M. H. Williams

[Edward L. Hsiao]

Gentlemen,

Doe anyone has a biography of Gerard M. H. Williams,a 7 victory ace of the USMC? I was at a different forum and was looking at his groupings. Was it true that Williams was born in France?

Sincerely,

Edward L. Hsiao

[Frank Olynyk]

Very little has been written about him. But he was born in Nice, France.

Enjoy!

Frank.

[25Kingman49]

Gerard Maurice Haralson Williams was born 21 Sep 1921 to Andree Fernande Vignaux and Samuel Reily Williams at Nice, Alpes-Maritimes, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France, then lived in Paris. Gerard had an older brother Jack Reily born 14 June 1920. Even though born in France both brothers were United States citizens as their father was a US citizen. According to the 1940 Census, Gerald was living in Maplewood, Essex, New Jersey, USA working as an electrician.

To be clear on the back story here. Gerard's father was born in St Francisville, Louisiana, USA, (in this part of Louisiana on the Mississippi River 26 miles northwest of Baton Rouge it is likely he spoke French or at least a Cajun language variant) during WW I he deployed to France Dec 1917 with the US Army, as a 1st Lt in the Coastal Artillery Corps, then remained in France postwar working as an electrical engineer for a United State pump manufacturing company. The family in general was well traveled. Although not germane to this study Gerard's brother Jack Reily Williams was a USN veteran serving from 14 June 1938 to 22 January 1946. He passed away on 7 August 2006 at Naples Florida, USA.

Gerard enlisted in the United States Marine Corps on 17 Sep 1942 becoming a USMC Aviator with distinguished service. Gerard became a World War II Marine Corps ACE, credited with shooting down SEVEN enemy aircraft in aerial combat. 1st Lt Williams (MCSN: 0-25779), USMC, was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as Pilot of a Fighter Airplane in Marine Fighting Squadron TWO HUNDRED FIFTEEN (VMF-215), in actions against enemy Japanese forces in the Pacific Theater of Operations during World War II.

On 17 March 1945 1st Lt Williams married Martha Lee Dermody at Corpus Christi, Texas.

USMC service assignments; note: not a complete record, compiled from various USMC Muster Roles is as follows:

Oct 1943, 2nd Lt.: Headquarters Squadron 23, Marairg-23, Maha, C/O Fpo, San Francisco, California
Oct 1943, 2nd Lt.: Marine Fighting Squadron 223, C/O Fleet Post Office, San Francisco, California
Jan 1944, 2nd Lt.: Marine Fighting Squadron-215, Mag-12, Smaw, Fmf
Apr 1944, 2nd Lt.: Marine Fighting Squadron 215, Mag-21, 2Nd Maw, Fmf
Jan 1945, 1st Lt.: Aviation Detachment, Marine Barracks, Natb, Nas, Corpus Christi, Texas
Jul 1945, 1st Lt.: Aviation Detachment, Marine Barracks, Natb Corpus Christi Texas.
Jan 1946, 1st Lt.: Aviation Detachment, Marine Barracks, Natb, Corpus Christi, Texas.
July 1946, Capt.: Aviation Detachment, Marine Barracks, Natb, Corpus Christi, Texas.
Jan 1947, Capt.: Aviation Detachment, Marine Barracks, Natb, Corpus Christi, Texas
Apr 1952, Capt.: Officers Volunteer Reserve Third Marine Corps Reserve District
Apr 1953, Capt. : Inactive Status Personnel 1Stmcrrd, 495 Summer St Boston Mass
Apr 1958, Capt.: Isl Avn Off Vol Res Martc Nas Glen

Capt Gerard Maurice Haralson Williams passed away on 21 Aug 1990 at age 69 at New Bern, Craven County, North Carolina, USA.

I’ve added a photo and brief bio caption to his findagrave memorial here:

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/...erard-williams

[Edward L. Hsiao]

Dear Sir,

Thank you so much for this information. I take it that Gerard's father was married after World War I to a French lady when he took a job in France.

Sincerely,

Edward L. Hsiao

[25Kingman49]

Pleased to help. Yes his father married Andrée Fernande ‘Vignaux’ Williams, attached is a copy of her US passport app. Also attached is the birth record for their eldest son Jack Reily Williams. Sorry no birth document found for Gerard.

[Edward L. Hsiao]

Gentlemen,

I know there had to be more rare examples of an U.S. air ace who was born in a foreign country under a foreign mother but a father a U.S. citizen. Paul J. Fontana was born in Italy with his father a U.S. citizen and an Italian mother. Got that information of Fontana from I think "Who's Who in the U.S.".

Edward L. Hsiao