Awesome story - American Hero Returns Home

davidhollinger · 06-10-2013, 08:51 AM

The MC I ride with escorted this procession to the hero's final resting place. Very cool.

VERBENA, AL (WSFA) -
A funeral was held, today, for a soldier gone missing 63 years ago. Chilton County native, Master Sergeant Olen Berry Williams was declared missing in action on December 12, 1950, during the Battle of the Chosin Reservoir, in North Korea. After years of nothing from him, he was declared killed in action, December 31, 1953. After more than a half century, the military positively identified his body.
Thursday, he was given a military escort from the Birmingham airport back to his home town.
Sunday afternoon, Sgt. Williams was given a proper funeral. Friends and family, who knew him, and many coming just to honor a soldier, filled the Martin Funeral Home in Clanton, during the viewing, before his burial at the Evergreen Cemetery in Verbena. He was given full military honors.
Master Sgt. Williams was a highly decorated non-commissioned officer who served 10 years in the military and saw combat action during World War II and the Korean War. As a member of the 8th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division, he went ashore as a member of the first unit to land in Normandy at Utah Beach during D-Day on June 6, 1944. Despite being wounded, he was able to rejoin his unit and continue the fight until the war's end.
Of the 3,288 U.S. Army soldiers who were attacked in the Battle of the Chosin Reservoir, 2,504 soldiers, including Sgt. Williams, were listed as MIA. His unidentified remains were discovered on the eastern side of the Chosin Reservoir and were repatriated by the Chinese government on September 15, 1954. His remains were buried alongside many other unidentified servicemen at the National Military Cemetery in Hawaii.
In 2012 his case was reopened. After using forensic identification tools and biographical information, on April 2, 2013, a positive match was made confirming the remains were those of Master Sgt. Williams.
Sgt. Williams is survived by nieces and nephews. Relative buried him next to his parents and younger sister.

Old Bear · 06-10-2013, 09:20 AM

A long trip, but finally home.

Thanks, David, for sharing.

06-10-2013, 08:51 AM	#1
davidhollinger Sr. Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Central Alabama Posts: 2,188	Awesome story - American Hero Returns Home The MC I ride with escorted this procession to the hero's final resting place. Very cool. VERBENA, AL (WSFA) - A funeral was held, today, for a soldier gone missing 63 years ago. Chilton County native, Master Sergeant Olen Berry Williams was declared missing in action on December 12, 1950, during the Battle of the Chosin Reservoir, in North Korea. After years of nothing from him, he was declared killed in action, December 31, 1953. After more than a half century, the military positively identified his body. Thursday, he was given a military escort from the Birmingham airport back to his home town. Sunday afternoon, Sgt. Williams was given a proper funeral. Friends and family, who knew him, and many coming just to honor a soldier, filled the Martin Funeral Home in Clanton, during the viewing, before his burial at the Evergreen Cemetery in Verbena. He was given full military honors. Master Sgt. Williams was a highly decorated non-commissioned officer who served 10 years in the military and saw combat action during World War II and the Korean War. As a member of the 8th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division, he went ashore as a member of the first unit to land in Normandy at Utah Beach during D-Day on June 6, 1944. Despite being wounded, he was able to rejoin his unit and continue the fight until the war's end. Of the 3,288 U.S. Army soldiers who were attacked in the Battle of the Chosin Reservoir, 2,504 soldiers, including Sgt. Williams, were listed as MIA. His unidentified remains were discovered on the eastern side of the Chosin Reservoir and were repatriated by the Chinese government on September 15, 1954. His remains were buried alongside many other unidentified servicemen at the National Military Cemetery in Hawaii. In 2012 his case was reopened. After using forensic identification tools and biographical information, on April 2, 2013, a positive match was made confirming the remains were those of Master Sgt. Williams. Sgt. Williams is survived by nieces and nephews. Relative buried him next to his parents and younger sister. __________________ I would be patient, but it takes too long!! David Hollinger 2002 Beige 1500 "Hannah2" VBA # 02195 Login or Register to Remove Ads
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06-10-2013, 09:20 AM	#2
Old Bear Sr. Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Clarksville, TN Posts: 1,432	A long trip, but finally home. Thanks, David, for sharing. __________________ Jerry "Old Bear" Barker Clarksville, TN Americas Guardians PS MC President, Tennessee 16-A VBA #02203 "Blaze" 2017 Vaquero "Black Magic" 2011 Vaquero, 69k miles, handed down to my son for hopefully many more miles!
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