[cousin and g-uncle of contributor]

John P.H. Williamson died 12 Sept 1918 on fields of France 6 miles south of Verdun in the decisive St. Mihiel Offensive that turned back the German offensive; forced surrender of 8,000 German soldiers.

General John Pershing and Colonel George Patton planned the tactical first American attack where the "terrain became the biggest threat after five days of rain the ground became almost impassable to both tanks and infantry....Another obstacle to the American operation were the many in-depth series of trenches, wire obstacles, and machine-gun nests that the Germans installed to augment their defensive positions. Therefore 'The Renaults designed to cross six-foot trenches in dry weather, were being forced by their crews to negotiate line after line of trenches that were eight feet deep and ten to fourteen feet wide 'in horrible mud'"...Yet, General Pershing's operational planning of St. Mihiel had broken....".

In that five-mile successful push where "murderous attrition" was taking place, John Williamson was K.I.A.---and buried in the American Cemetery at St. Mihiel, FRANCE until being returned home to be buried; now next to his parents in Marble Falls, Texas---his father elected to bypass the opportunity to honor his burial in Arlington, Virginia for burial in the soil of his Texas roots in July, 1921.

The Germans surrendered and returned France to its status as a free Nation less than two months (November 11, 1918) after John died to free the French from tyranny.

John Patrick Henry Williamson, killed on the fields of France in WWI in 1918 (age 19 years old). John is standing in between his Mother, Melinda Adeline Bailey, and his father John Merrell Williamson of Marble Falls (Double Horn area) where they had a farm.

Another Williamson soldier was Vernon T. Williamson, who died during WWII. John Williamson, pictured above, was Vernon's uncle and the younger brother of Vernon's father, James T. Williamson. The Williamson family has suffered and contributed much to freedom and liberty--losing sons (John and Vernon) in WWI and again in WWII.

John's grave is next to his parents in Pleasant Valley Cemetery.