WILLIAMS, ROBERT CYRIL
Remains returned 05/95
Name: Robert Cyril Williams
Branch/Rank: United States Air Force/O4
Unit:
Date of Birth: 01 August 1929
Home City of Record: McLeansboro IL
Date of Loss: 01 July 1966
Country of Loss: North Vietnam
Loss Coordinates: 174344 North 1055643 East
Status (in 1973): Killed in Action/Body not Recovered
Category: 2
Aircraft/Vehicle/Ground: A1E
Missions:
Other Personnel in Incident: unknown
Refno:
Source: Compiled by P.O.W. NETWORK from one or more of the following: raw
data from U.S. Government agency sources, correspondence with POW/MIA
families, published sources, interviews and CACCF = Combined Action
Combat Casualty File.
REMARKS:
July 2, 1995
By Linda Rush
The Southern Illinoisan
McLeansboro MIA laid to rest
As a brisk breeze ruffled the hay in an adjacent field and snapped at the
array of flags, four military jets approached the cemetery in McLeansboro.
When they were directly over the cemetery, three jets continued on course; one
climbed straight heavenward until it soared out of sight and only the faint
sound of the engine was heard.
The symbolic flyover was a fitting farewell for Maj. Robert C. Williams of
McLeansboro, whose remains were laid to rest Saturday in his hometown of 2,700
- 29 years to the day after his A-1E Skyraider was shot down over Vietnam.
Those gathered at the graveside included family and friends, plus many
military officers and veterans in uniforms ranging from natty Air Force dress
blues to weathered Vietnam Ranger fatigues and berets.
Williams family had asked that the services be private and simple, out of
deference to the major's elderly parents, Cyril E. and Maude Williams of
McLeansboro, but veterans and military groups also gathered to pay a quiet
tribute.
The pilot's body was recovered on Aug. 2, 1994 , as a result of U.S.-
Vietnamese recovery work that began about two years ago. The body was
positively identified at Travis Air Force base in Fairfield, Calif., and the
family learned about the identification in May and planned the service for the
anniversary date of William's death. The stone monument was placed at the
gravesite about 27 years ago, said a member of the funeral home staff.
The veterans gathered at the cemetery well in advance of the service, voiced
tributes to Williams and also vowed to continue their fight for the return of
prisoners of war and those missing in action.
Representing the Patriots, Bravo Company were Jeff Hale, Bill Crain, Kevin
Stratton, Jim Chambers, Bruce Dallas, Bob Marcy and Craig Harris, all of
Murphysboro and Jim Pfister, Larry Harnileaux and Everett Moore, all of
McLeansboro. They had come to place a wreth at graveside.
From the state Disbaled American Veterans auxiliary were Betty Buck, State
senior vice-commander, and Betty Bumpus, state chaplain; both were members of
the Mount Vernon DAV Auxiliary.
Kermit F. Holtgrewew of Belleville, State American Legion Commander, quietly
awaited the service. "The family didn'y want a big military ceremony," he
said; otherwise many more veterans would have been present. "We're here to
honor the veteran." He noted the long lobbying effort by veteran's
organizations to stop this county from doing business with Vietnam until all
POWs and MIAs are accounted for.
"Whenever one is returned home," Holtgrewe said, "it's worth it all."
"I'm wearing his bracelet," Frances Files Davis of Marissa said quietly. She
held out her wrist to display a worn red metal MIA bracelet inscribed with
Maj. Williams' name and 7-1-66; the date he was reported missing. She said she
had grown up in nearby Ensfield and graduated in 1966, so she had chosen
Williams' name from the MIA list.
Four vets in camouflage and black berets represented the Vietnam Veterans
Chapter 309 in the Bellville-Fairview Heights area.
"I've still got a friend from Pinckneyville over there," said Bill Randolph of
Collinsville. He attended grade school in Pinckneyville and played basketball
with Capt. Thomas Daffron, who was reported missing in Laos on Feb. 18, 1970.
Randolph wears a scuffed metal bracelet bearing Daffron's name and the date he
was reported missing. "If they do find Tom Daffron, I'll be at his funeral," he
vowed.
Representing Secretary of the Army Togo West Jr and President Bill Clinton was
former state Rep. Larry Hicks of Mount Vernon. Hicks now serves as West's
civilian aide for southern Illinois.
Gen. Richard Austin of Springfield, adjutant general of the Illinois National
Guard, was at the services as the official military representative. When asked
by the family to participate, "I said I'd be proud to do it, having served in
Vietnam myself," he said.
Austin has performed a similar duty for a number of MIA-POW funerals in
Illinois as remains are being returned for burial.
Does it ever get easier? "No," he said with feeling. But, he added, "Finally
they're home and ther's a resolution" of the years of uncertainty, "Along with
the sadness that they gave their life for their country."
Sic uniformed Air Force honor guard carried the flag-draped silver-colored
casket; they leter folded he flag, placed it in a triangular wooden case and
presented it to the family.
In conducting the service, the Rev. Jerry Parmley, pastor of First Baptist
Church in McLeansboro, said Williams' family has "walked through the valley of
the shadow of death for all these years," as he quoted the 23rd Psalm. "We
thank God for this wonderful man and his sacrifice," he said as he prayed
"that his memory will live on with us all."
Parmley said Williams had been sent to Vietnam to train South Vietnmese
pilots; when that mission was over, he volunteered to fly search-and-rescue
missions. It was on one of these, over Quang Bin Province, that his
single-seat plane was shot down.
Williams life and death, Parmley said, exemplified the scripture "Greater love
hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends."
After the flyover, as the jets roar faded with distance, an honor squad fired
three volleys and the soft strains of "Taps" sounded.
For Williams' family the long wait had ended; he had come home at last.
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