Henry Williams (soldier) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Henry Williams
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|---|---|
| Born | September 15, 1918 Macon, Mississippi, United States |
| Died | August 15, 1942 (aged 23) Mobile, Alabama, United States |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Service/ |
United States Army |
| Years of service | 1941–1942 |
| Rank |  Private |
| Unit | United States Army Air Forces |
Henry Williams was an African American soldier who served in the United States Army during World War II. He was a Private, which is a common rank for soldiers. Sadly, he died on August 15, 1942, in Mobile, Alabama.
Early Life and Military Service
Henry Williams was born on September 15, 1918, in Macon, Mississippi. When he was 23 years old, he joined the United States Army. This was on September 23, 1941.
After joining the Army, Williams was first sent to Fort McClellan in Alabama. Later, he was stationed at Brookley Army Air Field. This base was located near Mobile, Alabama.
The Incident in Mobile
On August 15, 1942, Henry Williams was riding a bus in Mobile. He needed to return to his base. The bus driver, Grover Chandler, stopped the bus to talk to someone. Williams asked the driver to keep going.
This led to an argument between Williams and the driver. The argument ended when the bus driver pulled out a gun. Williams tried to escape by running out the back of the bus. However, the driver fired several shots. Henry Williams was hit and died.
Community Reaction
Henry Williams' death caused a lot of sadness and anger in the community. More than 100 people joined the Mobile branch of the NAACP. The NAACP is a civil rights organization.
John L. LeFlore, who was the local NAACP president, took action. He organized a boycott of the bus company. He also asked for the bus driver, Grover Chandler, to be held responsible. The bus company, Mobile Light and Railroad Company, agreed to stop their drivers from carrying guns. Chandler was held for a few days but was later released. He was never put on trial for what happened.
The commanding officer at Brookley Field, Colonel Vincent Dixon, stated that the Army could not get involved. This was because the incident happened off the base and involved a civilian.
Legacy
Henry Williams' story was shared in a special way. His death was mentioned in a TV series called The War. This miniseries was shown on PBS in 2007. It was featured in episode 3.
