Malcolm Earl Williams Obituary (1918 - 2010)

Waterville After more than a year of illness, Malcolm Earl Williams 92 of Francis Street, passed away at home early Fri., Aug. 20, 2010 with his loving family surrounding him. He was the oldest of four children of George L. and Iona Ella Bishop Williams and was born in Waterville, Maine on January 10, 1918. Mac as he was known, was a graduate of Waterville Senior High School Class of 1936. During his education years, he supplemented the family income by working in gardens, hayfields, and sheperding cows to the fields for the day. Shortly after high school, during the depression, he joined the Civilian Conservation Corps CCC to help support his mother and siblings as his father was frequently hospitalized from tuberculosis. While in the CCC, he was stationed at Ft. Williams in Cape Elizabeth, Greenville Kokadjo Maine and his favorite area, Patton, Maine. He was in charge of the infirmary there. Late in the 1930's, he enrolled in the Sisters Hospital of Nursing. When WWII started, he enlisted on May 19, 1942 in the U.S. Army USAAF and became a surgical technician assigned to Bradley Field, Windsor Locks Ct. and then to Bowman Field in Kentucky. Following his training, he was assigned to the 816th Medical Air Evacuation Squadron and shipped to England and assigned to a C-47 as a flight nurse. He made numerous trips to recently liberated areas in central Europe and Africa including 16 round trips with wounded from England and Scotland to America, all of those trips in unarmed C-47's. He participated in D-Day, the Battle of the Bulge and evacuated the soldiers safely to England. Campaigns he participated in were Normandy, Ardennes, Central Europe and Africa and the Rhineland. In England, he was assigned to Bury St. Edmunds Airfield, Columbia Field, Tibenham, England and Prestwick, Scotland. His awards included the Air Medal, Good Conduct, American Campaign, Europe African Middle Eastern Theater Medal with four bronze service stars, Victory Medal, Battle of the Bulge, D-Day Campaign. He was especially proud to receive his aviation wings. He was honorably discharged on August 18, 1945. In 1948, he joined the Army National Guard assigned to the signal corp and was a wire chief. He was honorably discharged on October 15, 1952 with the rank of sergeant first class. He married Ruth E. McCann of Bangor , who was the love of his life on November 20, 1941 and they were happily married for 62 years. She passed away on September 14, 2004. He is survived by his three children and their spouses, Elizabeth Ann Martin and Milton of Canaan, Michael Williams,Sr. and Bonnie of Waterville, Rebecca Tracy and Paul of Raymond; grandchildren and their spouses, Toby Bradford and David of St. Albans, Timothy Lecrone and Sherrie of Waterville, Jamie LeCrone of Fairfield, Michael Isgro and Hannah of Portland, Matthew Isgro of Portland, Michael Williams, Jr.and Stacy of Lewiston, Stephanie Williams of Greensboro, N.C., Derek Veilleux and Jude of Gorham, Jeffery Williams and Jessica ofVincensa,Italy, Kelly Munroe of Standish, Christopher and Daniel Tracy of Raymond and Michelle Brown of Sanford; great-grandchildren, Kealeigh, Christian and Sophia Bradford of St. Albans, Caelan, Ty and Alex LeCrone of Waterville,Trinitee and Gavin Snyder of Standish, Michaela and Lincoln Williams of Lewiston, Kayla Williams and Marshall Tillett of Greensboro, NC, Ava and Meerah Bella Isgro of Portland and Hailey Morgan Williams of Tamaqua,PA. Friends and relatives may visit from 7-9 p.m. Monday August 23, 2010 at the Gallant Funeral Home 10 Elm Street Waterville. Committal prayers with full military honors will be held 10 a.m. Tuesday August 24, 2010 at the Maine Veterans Memorial Cemetery Chapel Mount Vernon Road in Augusta, Maine. Mac was very passionate about giving to others and had requested that donations be given to the Wade Slack Fund c/o Alan Slack 2 Pleasant Street Waterville, Maine 04901or to the Humane Society Waterville Area, 100 Webb Rd., Waterville, ME 04901.