By Marilyn Weitzel
COLUMBUS, Ga. | Two military veterans from Gwinnett County were inducted Saturday into the Georgia Military Veterans Hall of fame in Columbus. Inducted were the late World War II Army Staff Sergeant Carvis Pittman Williams of Snellville and former Vietnam Prisoner of War Air Force Lt. Col. James Wesley Williams, who currently lives in Norcross.
Announcement of the honor, together with 13 other deserving Georgia veterans, was made by 2013 GMVHOF Founder Col. Paul Longgrear (USA-Ret) of Pine Mountain.
According to Hall of Fame Director and Chairman of the Board Col. Rick White (USA-Ret), formerly of Norcross, Hall of Fame nominees must have ties to Georgia and qualify in one of three categories: valor for heroic action in combat; outstanding achievement while in service, or significant local, state or national contributions after leaving active duty.
Sgt. Carvis Williams
Carvis Williams was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1944 and sworn in at Fort McPherson, Ga. He arrived in France in 1945 with a rifle company known as the “Cotton Balers” after completing training as a casualty replacement for allied forces.
While participating in fighting on German soil, his battalion suffered great losses, but later launched a massive attack to breach the Siegfried Line. Pursuing the enemy across the Rhine River, the “Balers” secured Nuremberg under American control on their way to closing the war.
During the months-long siege PFC Williams risked his life repeatedly to protect his fellow soldiers amid close range fighting despite being exposed to hostile fire. For his gallantry in action, PFC Williams was awarded the Silver Star, the Army’s second highest medal for valor.
After discharge from the Army in 1946, Williams returned to Gwinnett County and farmed for the remainder of his life He was elected a county commissioner representing the Snellville area and was president for 25 years of the Gwinnett Livestock and Fair Association, which puts on the annual Gwinnett County Fair. He also was a district supervisor of the Upper Ocmulgee Soil and Water Conservation District for 18 years. The bridge over the Yellow River on Killian Hill Road was named for him in 1997.
Lt. Col. James Wesley Williams
The other inductee from Gwinnett, Lt. Col. Williams was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force in 1967 after graduating from the Tennessee State University AFROTC program. Following flight and survival combat training, in 1971 he was assigned to an Air Force base in Thailand from where he staged F-4 combat missions over North Vietnam.
In May 1972 with 40 days remaining on his Vietnam tour, he was shot down on his 228th mission and ejected over North Vietnam. He was captured and confined to the infamous Hanoi Hilton, with Col. John McCain being one of his fellow hostages.
After spending 313 days in captivity enduring unspeakable conditions and abuse while refusing to engage in propaganda or disclose military secrets, he was released in March 1973 during “Operation Homecoming.”
Following his return, he became a command pilot with over 3,100 flying hours in five different aircraft including the F-4 Phantom and the F-15 Eagle. He has been awarded 58 Military Decorations including 4 Distinguished Flying Crosses, Bronze Star with Valor, two Purple Hearts, 15 Air Medals and the Prisoner of War Medal.
After assignments as Professor of Aerospace Science at Alabama State University and a tour at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala. he retired in 1995 with 28 years of service. He later became head of the ROTC program at Tucker High School for 20 years. He currently is serving as the secretary of Veterans Affairs POW Advisory Committee for five years.
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