Brigadier General Raymond Eccleston Serveira Williamson (September 1, 1894 – September 27, 1957) was a highly decorated officer in the United States Army who served in both World War I and World War II. A graduate of the United States Military Academy, he is most noted for his service during World War II as commanding general of Service Command, South Pacific Theater of Operations and as the assistant division commander (ADC) of the 91st Infantry Division during the Italian campaign.
Williamson remained in the army following the end of World War II, and held several important assignments, including Military Attaché to Canada and later the United Kingdom and commanding general (CG) of the 3rd Armored Division.
Early years
Williamson was born on September 1, 1894, in Brooklyn, New York, as the son of Sidney and Alice Williamson. Following high school, he studied one year at Amherst College in Amherst, Massachusetts, before received an appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, in May 1913. During his time at the academy, he was active in the boxing team and reached the rank of cadet captain.
He was a member of the class which produced more than 55 future general officers, including two Army Chiefs of StaffJoseph L. Collins and Matthew B. Ridgway. Other classmates include: Clare H. Armstrong, Aaron Bradshaw Jr., Mark W. Clark, John T. Cole, Norman D. Cota, John M. Devine, William W. Eagles, Theodore L. Futch, Charles H. Gerhardt, Augustus M. Gurney, Ernest N. Harmon, William Kelly Harrison Jr., Robert W. Hasbrouck, Frederick A. Irving, Laurence B. Keiser, Charles S. Kilburn, Bryant E. Moore, Daniel Noce, Onslow S. Rolfe, Herbert N. Schwarzkopf, Albert C. Smith, George D. Wahl, and George H. Weems.
Shortly after the American entry into World War I Williamson graduated that August with a Bachelor of Science degree. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the United States Army Cavalry Branch. He completed his basic training at Fort Riley, Kansas, and Fort Logan, Kansas, with the 21st Cavalry and then embarked for France in mid-1918 attached to the 157th Field Artillery Brigade, part of the 82nd "All American" Division. He participated in the Meuse–Argonne offensive and was decorated with the Legion of Honour by the Government of France and also received the Belgian Croix de Guerre.
Between the wars
Following the Armistice with Germany on November 11, 1918, which brought the war to an end, Williamson was attached to the 1st Division under Major General James B. Erwin and took part in the Allied occupation of the Rhineland. He returned to the United States in mid-1919 and served as a troop commander at Fort Myer, Virginia, with additional duty as Junior Aide to the White House during the tenure of President Warren G. Harding.
In August 1922, he was ordered to Harvard University for a year of study, preparatory to detail at West Point, New York, in the newly established Department of Economics and Government, where he subsequently served as an Instructor. During this assignment, Williamson met his future wife Anne Bryan, a daughter of Rear admiral Benjamin C. Bryan.
He was ordered back to the United States Military Academy at West Point in summer 1924 and served as first lieutenant and Instructor in the Department of Economics and Government, and Political History until late 1926. Williamson returned to West Point in July 1932 and served as captain and Assistant Instructor in the Department of Tactics and Personnel Officer of the Academy during the tenure of Lieutenant Colonel Robert C. Richardson. Upon an appointment of the new Commandant, Simon B. Buckner Jr. in June 1933, Williamson was appointed as his Assistant.
Williamson entered the Command and General Staff School in June 1935 and following his graduation one year later, he served as a troop and squadron commander with the 7th Cavalry until July 1939, when he was detailed to the Army War College. He graduated in June 1940 and joined the Office of the Assistant Chief of Staff for logistics (G-4), War Department General Staff. He was promoted to lieutenant colonel on August 30, 1940.
World War II
Following America's entry into World War II, in December 1941, Williamson was, on February 1, 1942, promoted to the temporary rank of colonel and was appointed Chief of Rail Transportation Section in the Office of the Assistant Chief of Staff for logistics (G-4). The war, however, demanded skilled officers and Williamson was ordered to Nouméa, New Caledonia, where he joined the headquarters of the newly activated 23rd Infantry Division under Major General Alexander Patch and assumed duty as Divisional Personnel officer (G-1).