Major Lloyd W. Williams

Lloyd Williams
Lloyd W. Williams, circa 1909
Born	(1887-01-05)January 5, 1887
Died	June 12, 1918(1918-06-12) (aged 31)
Place of birth	Berryville, Virginia
Place of death	Chateau-Thierry, France
Place of burial	Green Hill Cemetery
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Marine Corps
Rank	Major
Unit	2nd Battalion 5th Marines
Battles/wars	Banana Wars Occupation of Nicaragua World War I Battle of Château-Thierry (1918)
Awards	Silver Star (3) Purple Heart

Lloyd W. Williams (June 5, 1887 – June 12, 1918) was an officer in the United States Marine Corps who served and died in World War I.

Early life and education

Lloyd W. Williams was born on June 5, 1887 in Berryville, Virginia. While very young, his family moved to Washington, DC. Williams attended Virginia Polytechnic Institute (Virginia Tech) and graduated in 1907, as the captain of Alpha Company in the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets. After graduating, he became a second lieutenant of the United States Marine Corps on December 11, 1909.

World War One

During World War One, Captain Williams was assigned to command the division’s 51st Company in the 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines Regiment. On June 2, 1918, a division of Marines was sent to support the French army at the Battle of Belleau Wood. Lloyd Williams was serving as a company commander of 51st Company, 2d Battalion, 5th Marines. As the Marines arrived, they found French troops retreating. When advised to withdraw by a French colonel at the defensive line just north of the village of Lucy-le-Bocage, Williams bluntly replied: "Retreat Hell! we just got here!"

On June 11, 1918, Williams led an assault that routed the German defenders at Belleau Wood near Chateau-Thierry, France. Only 1 of the 10 officers and 16 of the 250 enlisted men survived or escaped injury. According to a French Major's report, after he ordered Williams to withdraw, Williams told him to "go to hell." Later, when Williams had been gassed and injured by shrapnel and lay wounded on the battlefield, he told the approaching medics, “Don’t bother with me. Take care of my good men." He later died from a shell explosion as he was being evacuated.

Awards

• Captain Williams was posthumously promoted to major.
• Williams received three Silver Star citations and a Purple Heart.
• He was recommended for two other awards: (the Medal of Honor and the Distinguished Service Cross) by his commanding officer, Colonel Wise, but neither were granted.

Major Williams Hall at Virginia Tech

Lloyd W. Williams c.1918

Legacy

• Major Williams is considered to be the first known Virginian to die in World War I.
• The U. S. Marine Corps' 2nd Battalion, 5th Regiment adopted the motto: “Retreat, hell!”, in honor of Major Williams. Fighting since 1914, the 2/5 marines is the most highly decorated battalion in marine history.
• On September 12, 1919, a new American Legion post in Berryville, Virginia was named in Williams' honor.
• In 1957, a new campus building was named in Lloyd's honor at Virginia Tech, his Alma Mater. The building, which combined 2 older barracks was named Major Williams Hall (a.k.a. "Major Bill") and functioned as both a corps and civilian student dormitory until it was renovated and converted to academic offices in 1995. It currently serves the history department in the College of Arts and Sciences.

References

Bibliography

• Clark, George B. (1994). Retreat, Hell! We Just Got Here!: A Brief Biographical Sketch of Lloyd W. Williams. The Brass Hat. OCLC 40761782. 
• Crocker, H.W. (2006). Don't Tread on me: A 400-year history of America at War, from Indian Fighting to Terrorist Hunting. Crown Forum. ISBN 1-4000-5363-3. 

Web

• Virginia Tech page on Maj. Williams Hall
• Virginia Tech historical data page
• Major Lloyd W. Williams at Find a Grave