Bio: Capt. Raymond A. Williams; Columbus, TX., then Caddo Parish, Louisiana
Submitted by Mike Miller
Date: 1999-2000





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Capt. Raymond A. Williams, who was one of the American aviators on the battle
irne in France during the last months of the great war, is a citizen and
business man of Shreveport, prominently known in oil well contracting circles. 
Since the war he has kept up his interest in the National Guard organization
and is now serving as a captain in the noted One Hundred Fifty-sixth Regiment.

Captain Williams was born at Columbus, Texas, in 1892, but has been a resident
of Louisiana since 1906.  He acquired a liberal education, attended the famous
Bingham Military Academy at Asheville, North Carolina, and later the
University of Texas.  His first residence in Louisiana was Leesville, in
Vernon Parish.  Captain Williams was in his senior year at the University of
Texas when in April, 1917, he volunteered for service in the World war.  He
had had several years of experience and training with the Louisiana National
Guard.  He entered the First Officers' Training School at Leon Springs, Texas,
and received the commission of second lieutenant in the Aviation Corps.  He
was given further training at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, and in January, 1918, went
overseas to France as a casual with about fifty others representing the
aviation department.  In France he attended three schools for aviators,
including Tours and Samur, becoming an instructor in the latter.  He then was
assigned duty as an observer and pilot on the French front, and after the
armistice he remained overseas with the American forces until June, 1919, when
he returned home and received his honorable discharge.

Mr. Williams then located at Shreveport and has since been engaged in oil well
contracting.  By appointment of the courts he has acted during 1924-25 as
receiver for the La-Tex Oil Corporation.

In November, 1924, Governor Fuqua commissioned Captain Williams a captain of
Company H of the Louisiana National Guard.  This company consists of
Shreveport men and is a unit of the One Hundred Fifty-sixth Infantry.  Captain
Williams married Miss Lucy Perkins, of Leesville, and their two children are: 
Lucy Perkins and  Raymond A., Jr.

A History of Louisiana, (vol. 2), p. 258, by Henry E. Chambers.  Published by
The American Historical Society, Inc., Chicago and New York, 1925.