C. O. “Buck” Williams, Jr., Brigadier General USAF (RET) died September 7, 2013. General Williams was 91 years old and is survived by his wife of 70 years, Francis Augusta Smith Williams of Montgomery, a son Coleman O. Williams III of Montgomery; a brother, Dr. Fred B. Williams, Capt USN (retired) of Blairsville, Georgia; and grandchildren, Edie Williams Cox(Edward) of Atlanta, Georgia, Molly Klopfenstein (Mark) of Atlanta, Georgia, Robert Rozelle (Dana) of Bonaire, Georgia and Amanda Box (Kevin) of Selma, Alabama as well as great-grandchildren Carter and Amelia Cox, Lauren, Lindsey, John Michael and Jeffrey Klopfenstein, Drake and Seth Rozelle, and Lane and Ashley Warren, as well as several nieces and nephews. General Williams was a member of The Citadel Class of 1943. He also held a Bachelor’s degree from Auburn University and a Master’s Degree from George Washington University. He was also a graduate of the US Army Air Corps Air Tactical School in 1946, the Air Command and Staff College in 1953, and the Air War College in 1959. He was a Command Pilot in the US Air Force, a rated Parachutist in the US Army, a Command Pilot in the South Vietnamese AF, a Jumpmaster in the South Vietnamese Rangers, and a Command Pilot in the Thailand AF. He also held the highest Federal Aviation Agency pilots license and logged over thirty thousand flying hours in military and civil aircraft including fifty-four combat missions in B-24s in World War II in the European Theater, Combat Cargo during Korea, and two tours in Vietnam. In the early days of the Vietnam War while a Colonel, he commanded the USAF combat effort which was then “a classified Air Commando Operation” in Vietnam. He made over 500 military and civilian parachute jumps including several in Vietnam. He was also a “skydiver” having made his first jump when he was 15 years old. General Williams was awarded the Legion of Merit twice, the Distinguished Flying Cross five times, the Bronze Star, the Air Medal ten times, seventeen Battle Stars, and fourteen other medals and decorations. During his thirty years active duty the General served as commander of squadrons, groups, wings, and air divisions. In lieu of flowers, donations would be appreciated to The Citadel Development Foundation. 171 Moultrie St. Charleston, SC 29409. A Memorial service will be held at Leak Memory Chapel in Montgomery on Friday, September 13th at 2:00pm with a visitation at 1:00pm. Online condolences may be made at www.LEAK-MC.com Tags: 1943
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