Grover L. Williams

Killed Accidentally

T-5 GROVER WILLIAMS DIED IN JEEP WRECK

Letter Received From His Captain Tells Of Fatal Accident Near Paris

Mrs. Grover L. Williams has received the following letter from Captain William A. Buckley, with whom her husband, T-5 Grover L. Williams was serving, when he was fatally injured in a jeep accident near Paris, September 5, 1944. Mrs. Williams is the former Cleo Price of the county and his parents, are Mr. and Mrs. Burk Williams of R3, Monroe. tjhe letter is as follows:

Your letter of inquiry concerning the accidental death of your husband, T-5 Grover L. Williams, 20409690 received this date. I will attempt to answer your question to the fullest extent possible, and if there any questions in your mind please feel free to write me for further information.

I knew your husband very well, as he cooked for my section, and was with me from about the middle of June until his death in September. In a way I also feel I know you for I censored most all of your husband's letetrs, as you have no doubt noticed.

Grover was one of the most courteous, willing hard-working and cooperative soldiers with whom I have ever come in contact and it was a shock to me to hear that he had died. I extend my deepest sympathy to you, for I know what a loss such a fine young man must be. I only hope that it may be some small consolation to you to know that he died without pain never recovering consciousness after his skull was fractured.

On September 4, 1944, I gave him a pass to visit Paris for a few hours as we were nearby and were going to move within the next two days. He and two other men in a jeep were returning from this pass when the truck struck an unmarked pillar which divided the road and turned over in the ditch. All the occupants were thrown out of the jeep but Grover was the only one injured. He was put in ambulance, rushed to the 203rd general hospital in Paris and was being operated on for a fractured skull at 2000 hour--less than an hour after the accident.

The operation, however, was unsuccessful, and Grover died early in the morning of September 5, 1944 without ever regaining consciousness.

We have received information that Grover's body was embalmed and buried in grave No. 18, row No. 1, plat C, at Suresnes american Military Cemetery, a permanent World War I cemetery in France. Protestant services were conducted in his memory at the grave by a chaplain.

Hoping this, in some measure, relieves your mind and alleviates your sorrow, I remain,

Most sincerely yours,

WILIAM A. BUCKLEY

Capt. 117th Inf.

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