Major Major most commonly refers to: * Major (rank), a military rank * Academic major, an academic discipline to which an undergraduate student formally commits * People named Major, including given names, surnames, nicknames * Major and minor in musi ...

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 or simply the Marines, is the maritime land force service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is responsible for conducting expeditionar ...

who served and died in

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

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 4,574 at the 2020 census, up from 4,185 at the 2010 census. History Berryville was founded at the intersection of the Winc ...

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

Washington, DC Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly known as Washington or D.C., is the capital city and Federal district of the United States, federal district of the United States. The city is on the Potomac River, across from ...

. Williams attended

Virginia Polytechnic Institute The Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, commonly referred to as Virginia Tech (VT), is a Public university, public Land-grant college, land-grant research university with its main campus in Blacksburg, Virginia, United States ...

(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 receiv ...

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

on December 11, 1909. In 1912, Williams was deployed to

Nicaragua Nicaragua, officially the Republic of Nicaragua, is the geographically largest Sovereign state, country in Central America, comprising . With a population of 7,142,529 as of 2024, it is the third-most populous country in Central America aft ...

and saw combat in the capture of León during the

Banana Wars The Banana Wars were a series of conflicts that consisted of military occupation, police action, and Interventionism (politics), intervention by the United States in Central America and the Caribbean between the end of the Spanish–American W ...

World War I

During World War I, Captain Williams was assigned to command the division's 51st Company in the 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines Regiment. On June 3, 1918, a brigade of Marines was sent to support the French army at the

Battle of Belleau Wood The Battle of Belleau Wood (1–26 June 1918) was a major battle that occurred during the German spring offensive in World War I, near the Marne (river), Marne River in France. The battle was fought by the U.S. 2nd Infantry Division (United State ...

. Lloyd Williams was serving as the commander of the 51st Company, 2nd 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 Lucy-le-Bocage () is a commune in the Aisne department in Hauts-de-France in northern France. Population See also *Communes of the Aisne department The following is a list of the 796 communes in the French department of Aisne. Th ...

, 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 one of the ten 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. Captain Williams was posthumously promoted to the rank of major.

Awards

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 a ...

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 Awards and decorations of the United States Armed Forces, military decoration and is awarded to recognize American United States Army, soldiers, United States Navy, sailors, Un ...

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 U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States between the East Coast of the United States ...

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 an Voluntary association, organization of United States, U.S. war veterans headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana. It comprises U.S. state, state, Territories of the United States, U.S. terr ...

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

Alma Mater Alma mater (; : almae matres) is an allegorical Latin phrase meaning "nourishing mother". It personifies a school that a person has attended or graduated from. The term is related to ''alumnus'', literally meaning 'nursling', which describes a sc ...

Virginia Tech The Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, commonly referred to as Virginia Tech (VT), is a Public university, public Land-grant college, land-grant research university with its main campus in Blacksburg, Virginia, United States ...

was named Major Williams Hall (a.k.a. "Major Bill") in his honor. The new building was a combination of two 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.'' A plaque in his honor can be found in the building's front entrance. * Major Williams is referenced by the power metal band Sabaton in their song "Devil Dogs".

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