By Krista Finstad Hanson

For the Times

The 42nd Armored Regiment of the 11th Armored Division of the U.S. Army, activated for service in WWII on Aug.15, 1942 at Camp Polk, Louisiana. They participated in the Louisiana Maneuvers, trained at Camp Barkeley, Texas; and Camp Cooke, California.

They left Camp Kilmer, New Jersey in September and arrived in England in October of 1944. They were stationed at Hardenuish Barracks, Camp Cocklebury, and West Downs Camp before arriving on the European continent.

The 11th Armored Division was transported to Cherbourg, France in December of 1944, first fighting in the L’Orient Pocket. It was then sent to Belgium and participated in the Battle of the Bulge. They were then sent to Germany in March of 1945. By V-E day on May 8, 1945, it was in Austria and met up with the Soviet fighters. They liberated the Mauthausen concentration camp and served occupation duty until Aug. 31, 1945.

Lafayette County soldier Kenneth P. McWilliams served with Company B of the 42nd Tank Battalion of the 11th Armored Division of the U.S. Army during World War II.

Kenneth Paul McWilliams was born on June 17, 1921 in Willow Springs Township, Lafayette County, Wisconsin. 

On the 1930 U.S. Census, the McWilliams family was living in Willow Springs township, Lafayette County. The household included father James and mother Elizabeth and children Harold J., Lavern, Forest, and Kenneth. Father James was a farmer, and both of the older sons were farm laborers.

Father James McWilliams died of a stroke on Monday, Dec. 7, 1936.

On the 1940 U.S. Census, Kenneth McWilliams was the hired hand for John Wagner and his wife Norma living in Willow Springs Township. 

On Feb. 15, 1942, Kenneth Paul McWilliams registered for the WWII draft. He was 20 and worked for Ray Moody at Route 2 Darlington (although his place of residence was Willow Springs in Lafayette County), and his next of kin was his mother, Mrs. James McWilliams in Darlington.

On Nov. 5, 1942, Kenneth P. McWilliams enlisted in Milwaukee, Wisconsin for service in WWII. He was single, without dependents. He had four years of high school and worked as a “general farmer.”

From the Feb. 20, 1945 Wisconsin State Journal obituary titled “Memorial Services for McWilliams Held,” the notice from Darlington (with photo) was “Memorial Services for Technical Sgt. Kenneth P. McWilliams, 23, who was killed in action Jan. 1 on the western front in Belgium, were held recently in Holy Rosary Catholic church….

“Sgt. McWilliams was born at the farm home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. James McWilliams, and was graduated from Darlington high school in 1939. He enlisted in October, 1942, and arrived in England in October, 1944.

“Survivors include his mother, Mrs. Elizabeth McWilliams, Darlington; a sister, Mrs. Robert Hardyman, Fayette, and three brothers, Harold and Laverne, at home, and Forrest, serving on the Western front.”

Technician Grade 4, Kenneth McWilliams was killed in action on Jan. 1, 1945. He was buried in the Luxembourg American Cemetery in Hamm, Luxembourg. McWilliams is listed on the Gold Star Honor Roll with the National Archives for Lafayette County, Wisconsin. He received the Purple Heart, awarded posthumously.

Thank you, Technician Fourth Grade Kenneth Paul McWilliams, for your service to and ultimate sacrifice for this country. We honor you and remember you.