Jack Herve Floyd Williams

Jack was born April 9,1934, in Vail, Wash. and went to school in Boistfort. While attending a dance in 1951, Jack

saw a U.S. Marine recruiter in his Dress Blue uniform. He was so impressed that he decided that the Marine Corps

was the direction he wanted to go. Being only 17, his mother had to sign papers and Jack joined the Marines in July

1951. Jack attended boot camp in San Diego and then went on to El Toro Marine Corps Air Station. Later, he was assigned to 6413 maintenance and then to transport squadron VMR-152 at Barbers Point, Hawaii. When he turned 18, he was assigned to a split maintenance squadron, stationed in Hawaii, Japan and Korea. He arrived in Korea in 1952.

During the Korean War, Jack was in maintenance with a transport squadron with over 150 missions. After Korea, he

was given his first helicopter assignment at an LTA (Lighter Than Air) base at Santa Ana in 1953. From 1954-1957 he

was at Sand Point Naval Air Station in Washington. In 1957, he attended “B” school at Memphis, Tenn. and back to

LTA base at Santa Ana, until 1964.

From 1964-1965, he served in Vietnam with HMM-365 (Helicopter, Marine, Medium) “Collier’s Clowns”, at Da Nang and Hue. In 1966-1967, Jack returned to Vietnam with HMM-361, “Tweed’s Tigers” at Chu Lai and Dong Ha and again

in 1968-1969, with HMM- 165 at Phu Bai. In December of 1969, Jack returned to Washington, and transferred to Naval Air Station, Whidbey Island. Jack remained there until his retirement May 30, 1972, as a master gunnery sergeant with

21 years of service.

During his military career, he received many awards and honors: Bronze Star with Valor, Air Medal (21,) Navy Unit

Citation with Valor, Combat Action Medal, Presidential Unit Citation (three,) Navy Unit Citation with star, Meritorious

Unit Commendation, Good Conduct with five stars, National Defense with star, Korean Service with three stars, Expeditionary Medal, Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Silver star, Korean Presidential Unit Citation, United Nations Service Medal, Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Palm, Republic of Vietnam Campaign.

After his military career, Jack moved to Curtis, where he started a new career as a truck driver. He worked for several

different companies until his retirement in 1987.

To know Jack was to love him. Whether it was at breakfast at his favorite local restaurant, telling stories at the Veterans

Museum, at a car show in the heat of the summer or at a family function, Jack had a smile on his face. If you had the pleasure of talking with him, you had a friend for life.

Jack is survived by his wife, Melody; sons, Rich Williams (Bonnie), Brian Williams (Debbie) and Brian Rhodes (Stacy); daughter, Leslie Lutman (Chris); extended family members, Sandi Miranda (Rick), Rich Teitzel, Mike Baker (Ellen), Jeff Baker (Krissy) and Robin Lawrence; 17 grandchildren; 14 greatgrandchildren; and one greatgreat-grandchild.

He was preceded in death by his mother, stepdad, father, brother and wife, Vicki.

A private burial service will be held at Tahoma National Cemetery in Kent. There will be a celebration of life at the Veterans Museum in Chehalis, Saturday, April 16, 2016, at 1:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Veterans Museum.