Major Major ( commandant in certain jurisdictions) is a military rank of commissioned officer status, with corresponding ranks existing in many military forces throughout the world. When used unhyphenated and in conjunction with no other indicato ...

Lloyd W. Williams (June 5, 1887 – June 12, 1918) was an officer in the

United States Marine Corps The United States Marine Corps (USMC), also referred to as the United States Marines, is the maritime land force service branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for conducting expeditionary and amphibious operations through c ...

who served and died in

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was List of wars and anthropogenic disasters by death toll, one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, ...

Early life and education

Lloyd W. Williams was born on June 5, 1887, in

Berryville, Virginia Berryville is an incorporated town in and the county seat of Clarke County, Virginia, United States. The population was 4,185 at the 2010 census, up from 2,963 at the 2000 census. History Berryville was founded at the intersection of the Winch ...

.Clark, page 1. While very young, his family moved to

Washington, DC ) , image_skyline = , image_caption = Clockwise from top left: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, United States Capitol, Logan Circle, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Adams Morg ...

. Williams attended

Virginia Polytechnic Institute Virginia Tech (formally the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and informally VT, or VPI) is a public land-grant research university with its main campus in Blacksburg, Virginia. It also has educational facilities in six re ...

(Virginia Tech) and graduated in 1907, as the captain of ''Alpha Company'' in the

Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets The Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets (VTCC) is the military component of the student body at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Cadets live together in residence halls, attend morning formation, wear a distinctive uniform, and recei ...

.Clark, page 2. After graduating, he became a second lieutenant of the

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 3, 1918, a division of Marines was sent to support the French army at the

Battle of Belleau Wood The Battle of Belleau Wood (1–26 June 1918) occurred during the German spring offensive in World War I, near the Marne River in France. The battle was fought between the U.S. 2nd (under the command of Major General Omar Bundy) and 3rd Divisi ...

. 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 the rank of ''Major''. * Williams received three

Silver Star The Silver Star Medal (SSM) is the United States Armed Forces' third-highest military decoration for valor in combat. The Silver Star Medal is awarded primarily to members of the United States Armed Forces for gallantry in action against an e ...

citations and a

Purple Heart The Purple Heart (PH) is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those wounded or killed while serving, on or after 5 April 1917, with the U.S. military. With its forerunner, the Badge of Military Merit, ...

. * He was recommended for two other awards: (the

Medal of Honor The Medal of Honor (MOH) is the United States Armed Forces' highest military decoration and is awarded to recognize American soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen, guardians and coast guardsmen who have distinguished themselves by acts of val ...

and the

Distinguished Service Cross The Distinguished Service Cross (D.S.C.) is a military decoration for courage. Different versions exist for different countries. *Distinguished Service Cross (Australia) *Distinguished Service Cross (United Kingdom) *Distinguished Service Cross (U ...

) by his commanding officer, Colonel Wise, but neither was granted. Major Williams Hall - panoramio

Legacy

* Major Williams is considered to be the first known

Virginia Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States, between the Atlantic Coast and the Appalachian Mountains. The geography and climate of the Commonwealth are ...

n 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, ''2/5'' is the most highly decorated battalion in Marine history. * On September 12, 1919, a new

American Legion The American Legion, commonly known as the Legion, is a non-profit organization of U.S. war veterans headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana. It is made up of state, U.S. territory, and overseas departments, and these are in turn made up of ...

post in Berryville, Virginia was named in Williams' honor. * In 1957, a new campus building at Lloyd's Alma Mater,

Virginia Tech Virginia Tech (formally the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and informally VT, or VPI) is a public land-grant research university with its main campus in Blacksburg, Virginia. It also has educational facilities in six re ...

was named Major Williams Hall (a.k.a. "Major Bill") in his honor. The new building was a combination of 2 older barracks and originally functioned as both a corps and civilian student dormitory. In 1995, it was renovated and converted to academic offices for the history department in the ''College of Arts and Sciences.''

Notes

References

;Bibliography * * * ;Web
Virginia Tech page on Maj. Williams Hall
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Williams, Lloyd W. 1887 births 1918 deaths American military personnel of the Banana Wars United States Marine Corps personnel of World War I People from Berryville, Virginia United States Marine Corps officers Virginia Tech alumni Recipients of the Silver Star Military personnel from Virginia American military personnel killed in World War I