mitrail400ex
February 13th, 2009, 08:48 AM
When I say my friend, that's just what I mean. It's coincidental that he was also my Grandfather. Mervin Brant Williams was born in 1921 to a young Detroit couple, Mable and Mervin Boyd Williams. Mervin Sr was a timekeeper for Cadillac Motors for over 35 years, a veteran of WWI, and a loving father.
Mervin Brant Williams, my Grandpa, lived his early teenage years in the era we now know as The Great Depression. They somehow managed to make it through unscathed, and as a stronger family because of it.
When WWII was in full swing, my grandpa learned of a new unit being formed in the Army. They were specifically looking for people with cold weather and ski experience for "mountainous terrain assault". He signed up for what would become (and is still known) as the 10th Mountain Division. He shipped out for Italy in January 1945, by way of a "big ol ship, I think it was the Navy" (according to Gramps). The DOD records it as being the USS Monticello.
On 17 March 1945, my grandpa was a part of a 12 man patrol team that was looking specifically for the snow covered machine gun emplacements that the Germans had hidden in the mountains of Northern Italy. They came upon one of these emplacements and came "within spitting distance" it before both sides realized who they were and opened fire. My grandpa continued to fight, despite taking a machine gun round to the leg. All said and done, the 7 man German gunner team was left with 1 KIA and 6 POW, with the 12 man patrol from the 10th with only 4 WIA.
After a stay in the hospital to patch up his leg, my grandpa returned to his unit.
14-15 April 1945 was a bloody time for the 10th, specifically the I company of the 85th Infantry, my grandpa's unit. The unit came into an area that was formerly a Villa on the edge of a strategically important mountain. Realizing this importance, the Germans had taken the Villa and used it as a base for the operations on the surrounding mountains. The Villa was VERY defensible with only a few ways in, and those entrances were heavily guarded. General Hayes, the commander of the 10th, thought this was the perfect job for the Mountaineers.
My grandpa's squad was sent in to scout and "tease" by doing a fast attack on the outside edge of the Villa, then quickly retreating back to the rest of the assault group. Things went sour though, when they realized that they had gone a little too far into the area surrounding the Villa and were pinned down by machine guns, sniper fire, mortar fire, and tanks. The snipers were systematically picking off the squad leaders, getting 2 of the LTs before changing targets and killing the radio man. Effectively cut off and surrounded, my grandpas squad stayed dug in and fought for 2 hours while the assault group caught up to them. Unfortunately, during the assault, a mortar round landed close to where my grandpa was, and a piece of shrapnel hit him in the chest. Again, just as before, he fought as long as he could.
His actions during 14-15 April earned him not only his 2nd Purple Heart, but also a Bronze Star. His Bronze Star was recommended by his replacement squad leader, his 3rd-in-command, Lt Robert Dole (aka Senator Bob Dole), who was also injured on 15 April 1945.
My Grandpa's reward for his rough climb through the mountains was to be in the taking of the Lake Gardia Villa where Benito Mussolini considered his "vacation" home. He still has pictures of the absolutely pristine scenery and beautiful area of Lake Gardia.
After the war, he returned to Detroit and started his family with his wife Thelma. Merv and Thelma had 6 kids, including 2 sons (George and Luther, my father) and 4 daughters (Mary Lou, Linda, Sharon, Donna. Thelma passed in 1968, followed shortly by Mary Lou in 1974, and then George in 2005. Grandpa followed in his fathers footsteps at Cadillac and was a timekeeper for just over 35 years.
The last few years for Merv were rough, with his health taking a constant downturn. He had two strokes and battled Alzheimer's for almost as long as I can remember, but he always had a good attitude and a keen sense of humor.
On Sunday, February 8th, the Lord called up his soldier and ended his suffering. As TAPS was played and the folded flag was handed to my father, a strange wave of both sadness and pride swelled over me. I was sad that I'll never get to sit and talk with my friend again, but at the same time, I was so proud to have known him.
I'll miss you, old man. But I'll see you again.
RIP PFC Mervin Brant Williams
1921-2009
"Semper Avante"
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y260/MITrail400ex/Grandpa_Mervin_B_Williams.jpg
Mervin Brant Williams, my Grandpa, lived his early teenage years in the era we now know as The Great Depression. They somehow managed to make it through unscathed, and as a stronger family because of it.
When WWII was in full swing, my grandpa learned of a new unit being formed in the Army. They were specifically looking for people with cold weather and ski experience for "mountainous terrain assault". He signed up for what would become (and is still known) as the 10th Mountain Division. He shipped out for Italy in January 1945, by way of a "big ol ship, I think it was the Navy" (according to Gramps). The DOD records it as being the USS Monticello.
On 17 March 1945, my grandpa was a part of a 12 man patrol team that was looking specifically for the snow covered machine gun emplacements that the Germans had hidden in the mountains of Northern Italy. They came upon one of these emplacements and came "within spitting distance" it before both sides realized who they were and opened fire. My grandpa continued to fight, despite taking a machine gun round to the leg. All said and done, the 7 man German gunner team was left with 1 KIA and 6 POW, with the 12 man patrol from the 10th with only 4 WIA.
After a stay in the hospital to patch up his leg, my grandpa returned to his unit.
14-15 April 1945 was a bloody time for the 10th, specifically the I company of the 85th Infantry, my grandpa's unit. The unit came into an area that was formerly a Villa on the edge of a strategically important mountain. Realizing this importance, the Germans had taken the Villa and used it as a base for the operations on the surrounding mountains. The Villa was VERY defensible with only a few ways in, and those entrances were heavily guarded. General Hayes, the commander of the 10th, thought this was the perfect job for the Mountaineers.
My grandpa's squad was sent in to scout and "tease" by doing a fast attack on the outside edge of the Villa, then quickly retreating back to the rest of the assault group. Things went sour though, when they realized that they had gone a little too far into the area surrounding the Villa and were pinned down by machine guns, sniper fire, mortar fire, and tanks. The snipers were systematically picking off the squad leaders, getting 2 of the LTs before changing targets and killing the radio man. Effectively cut off and surrounded, my grandpas squad stayed dug in and fought for 2 hours while the assault group caught up to them. Unfortunately, during the assault, a mortar round landed close to where my grandpa was, and a piece of shrapnel hit him in the chest. Again, just as before, he fought as long as he could.
His actions during 14-15 April earned him not only his 2nd Purple Heart, but also a Bronze Star. His Bronze Star was recommended by his replacement squad leader, his 3rd-in-command, Lt Robert Dole (aka Senator Bob Dole), who was also injured on 15 April 1945.
My Grandpa's reward for his rough climb through the mountains was to be in the taking of the Lake Gardia Villa where Benito Mussolini considered his "vacation" home. He still has pictures of the absolutely pristine scenery and beautiful area of Lake Gardia.
After the war, he returned to Detroit and started his family with his wife Thelma. Merv and Thelma had 6 kids, including 2 sons (George and Luther, my father) and 4 daughters (Mary Lou, Linda, Sharon, Donna. Thelma passed in 1968, followed shortly by Mary Lou in 1974, and then George in 2005. Grandpa followed in his fathers footsteps at Cadillac and was a timekeeper for just over 35 years.
The last few years for Merv were rough, with his health taking a constant downturn. He had two strokes and battled Alzheimer's for almost as long as I can remember, but he always had a good attitude and a keen sense of humor.
On Sunday, February 8th, the Lord called up his soldier and ended his suffering. As TAPS was played and the folded flag was handed to my father, a strange wave of both sadness and pride swelled over me. I was sad that I'll never get to sit and talk with my friend again, but at the same time, I was so proud to have known him.
I'll miss you, old man. But I'll see you again.
RIP PFC Mervin Brant Williams
1921-2009
"Semper Avante"
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y260/MITrail400ex/Grandpa_Mervin_B_Williams.jpg