At the start of World War II, the 8th Marine Regiment of the 2nd Division of Marines was stationed at San Diego, California. They trained in the Samoan Islands and then fought on Guadalcanal. They regrouped in New Zealand and later joined the Battle of Tarawa.

The Battle of Tarawa was fought November 20-23, 1943 with U.S. forces, Korean laborers, and Japanese forces on the Atoll of Tarawa and the Gilbert Islands. The death toll was 6,400 lives lost. The 2nd Division of Marines made an amphibious landing in a coral reef. The Japanese were heavily fortified and entrenched. The 2nd Marine Division fought valiantly to capture the Atoll of Tarawa but suffered many losses. The 2nd Marine Division was awarded a Presidential Unit Citation for their work in this battle.

Monroe Marine Clyde Ross Williams served with Company A, 1st Battalion, 8th Marine regiment, 2nd Marine Division, FMF.

Clyde Ross Williams was born on December 17, 1921 in Monroe in Green County to Fred and Lura (Morris) Williams.

From the 1930 U.S. Census, the Williams family was living in Monroe Township in Green County. The household included father Fred, mother Lura, and children Harry, Lois, Stacey, Clyde, Maxine, and Robert. Father Fred was a farmer working on his own account.

From the May 20, 1939 The Capital Times article titled “115 Graduate at Monroe; Class Largest in History of School,” the list of graduates included Clyde R. Williams.

From the 1940 U.S. Census, the Williams family was in the same house. The household included father Fred, mother Lura, and children Harry, Stacey, Clyde, Maxine and Robert. Father Fred was a farmer working on his own account, son Harry was a milk tester, and Stacey and Clyde were farm laborers working for paid wages.

Clyde R. Williams enlisted for service in WWII on January 23, 1942.

A February 8, 1944 Wisconsin State Journal notice had the information that “Two marines from this area were listed as wounded…Pfc. Clyde R. Williams, son of Fred Williams, Monroe.”

From the March 7, 1944 Wisconsin State Journal article titled “Wisconsin Casualties,” the “Navy Missing” section included “Pfc. Clyde R. Williams, marines — father, Fred Williams, Monroe. Pfc. Williams previously was reported wounded.”

From the March 13, 1944 Wisconsin State Journal article titled “Three Area Men Killed in Action,” the article stated “Three southern Wisconsin men have been killed in action, their parents were notified by the war department during the weekend. They were:…Pfc. Clyde R. Williams, Route 2, Monroe…”

From the April 27, 1954 Monroe Evening Times “Glancing Backward” column which was looking back 10 years, there was a brief notice from the April 27, 1944 paper that “A Purple Heart and two citation stars are awarded posthumously to Marine Pfc. Clyde R. Williams, who was killed in Tarawa invasion...”

A U.S. Veterans Headstone was ordered by his father Fred Williams on February 3, 1965. This cenotaph stone was placed in Greenwood Cemetery, Monroe, Green County, Wisconsin. The body was listed as “non-recoverable.”

Private First Class Clyde Ross Williams is listed on the Tablets of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial in Honolulu, Hawaii.

From the National WWII Memorial Registry, Clyde R. Williams served with the U.S. Marine Corps and his hometown was Monroe, Wisconsin. He was KIA.

Thank you, Private First Class Clyde Ross Williams, for your service to and ultimate sacrifice for this country. We honor you and remember you.