A WAR HERO
First Lieutenant Clifton M. Williams was born on July 21, 1923 and was raised in Escawpata, Mississippi. He was one of three children born to Clifton M. Williams Senior and Irene Fry Williams. After receiving a high school diploma and spending a year enrolled as a college student, Lieutenant Williams enlisted in the Army Air Corps on September 4th, 1942. He spent less than a year flying missions for the 351st Bomber Squadron, 100th Bomber Group Heavy, before his death on September 31st, 1944. The United States awarded him the Air Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters during his time as a pilot, and the Purple Heart after his death.