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WWII veteran Robert ‘Bob’ Williams, who soared above Normandy on D-Day, leaves legacy of service


By Vicki Prichard
NKyTribune reporter

A “patriot and a gentleman,” WWII veteran Robert “Bob” Williams of Independence, passed away Friday, December 30, 2016. He was 94-years-old.

Born September 28, 1922, to the late William Henry and Atha Williams, Williams enlisted in the United States Army after graduating from Holmes High School.

By June 6, 1944 – D-Day – Williams would be among the 12,000 members of the 101st Airborne Division’s “Screaming Eagles” that parachuted behind enemy lines.

“Bob Williams was a patriot and a gentleman,” says Florence Mayor Diane Whalen.

Bob Williams with his collection of WWII memorabilia (Photo by Vicki Prichard)

Bob Williams with his collection of WWII memorabilia (Photo by Vicki Prichard)

For many years, Whalen and Williams sat side by side as they rode in the city’s Memorial Day parades. She considered him a friend.

“When we reference the “Greatest Generation,” we reference Bob Williams,” says Whalen. “Bob was my friend, and someone who I will dearly miss. Our city Memorial Parade will not be the same without Bob riding in the golf cart with me, waving and saluting those along the parade route. Thanks for the memories, Bob.”

In an interview last year, Williams recounted that day.

As soon as we approached the coast of France, anti-aircraft started going off. These guys who had never been into combat suddenly realized that this was it, you know. So, I could look out the door and I saw one or two planes that were hit with anti-aircraft fire. They just blew up because the planes – underneath the bottoms of the planes – were these bags with mortar shells and ammunition in them, and once something like the bullet goes through the wings it was no big deal, but if it hit the bottom of that airplane the plane just blew up in a ball of fire. It wasn’t too long, just a few minutes, before we crossed the Normandy peninsula toward Utah Beach, and that’s where we were supposed to jump, just inside of Utah Beach. I jumped; it was pretty low, we were supposed to jump at about 800 feet, and a pilot told me later it was closer to 600 – 650 on account of the anti-aircraft fire. The pilots were getting down real low. I know it didn’t take me very long to hit the ground. I landed in about two feet of water where the Germans had flooded the inland area behind the beach.

Fifty years later, Williams, at the age of 71, returned to France, along with fellow paratroopers, to recreate the dramatic jump on the 50th anniversary of D-Day. He recalled that the second jump was a bit more daunting.

“I wasn’t so much scared on the first jump; I was more scared on the second jump,” said Williams in a 2015 interview. “But after that, you’ve got a bunch of guys in back of you trying to get out too, so you can’t stop if you wanted to.”

Roughly 800 paratroopers soared through the skies on that 50th anniversary. Williams chronicled the experience in his book, Return to Normandy.

Williams parachuted into Normandy not once, but twice in his lifetime.

Williams parachuted into Normandy not once, but twice in his lifetime.

At his home in Independence, Williams displayed where an impressive collection of WWII memorabilia. Among the historical treasures are Time Magazine issues featuring Williams and his fellow paratroopers as landed at Normandy for a second time, as well as a letter from biographer Stephen Ambrose, who was in close touch with Williams as he wrote his book, Band of Brothers, which later became a series on HBO.

Williams, who was inducted into the Kentucky Veterans Hall of Fame, leaves behind his wife Barbara Williams (nee Kautz); daughter Barbara Washington (Louis) of Park Hills, and son Jeffrey Williams (Elizabeth) of Acworth, GA; daughter Diane Cureton (Sam) of Michigan; stepdaughter Kim Deaton of North Carolina and stepson Kevin Deaton (Lucy) of Warsaw.

He was the loving grandfather of Jeremy Williams and Zachary Williams both of Georgia, and Rhonda Whelan (Dave), Shelly Garvin, Diana Waugh, and Renee Walsh all of Michigan; and great grandfather of 14. He also leaves behind his brother, Richard A. Williams, of Naples, FL. Bob is preceded in death by his son, David L. Williams.

A graveside memorial service will be held on a date yet to be determined at Highland Cemetery, 2167 Dixie Highway, Fort Mitchell, KY 41017. Middendorf Funeral Home, Ft. Wright, is assisting the family with arrangements. Memorials are suggested to: St. Elizabeth Hospital Hospice 483 South Loop Drive Edgewood, KY 41017.

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See the NKyTribune’s earlier story about Bob Williams — two historical jumps in a lifetime.


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