Born in Raeford, North Carolina, Ellis grew up and went to high school in Raleigh, NC. He served in the North Carolina National Guard during high school and college. He graduated from Atlantic Christian (now Barton) College, Wilson, North Carolina, in 1940 and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant.
Highlights of General Williamson's military career include participation in the D Day landings with the 120th Infantry Regiment, and service in the European theater where he commanded at the platoon, company, battalion and regimental levels, earning temporary promotions through the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. In 1950 he was on the planning staff for and participated in the Inchon Landings in Korea, and subsequently served on the X Corps staff. Following instructional and staff assignments in the United States, he assumed command of the 13th Infantry Regiment at Fort Carson, Colorado, and took the Regiment to Germany. In 1959 he became an army paratrooper.
Promoted to Brigadier General in 1963, he organized the 173rd Airborne Brigade (Separate) on Okinawa and took the Brigade into Vietnam in May of 1965, becoming the first United States Army ground combat unit to enter the conflict. In 1966 he became Assistant Commandant at The Infantry School, Fort Benning, GA. Subsequently he was promoted to Major General and assumed command of the Army Training Center at Fort Polk, LA. In 1968 he returned to Vietnam, commanding the 25th "Tropic Lightning" Infantry Division.
He was designated Chief of the US Military Mission in Iran and Personal Advisor to the Shah of Iran in 1971 and subsequently retired in 1973. Following retirement, he continued his life of service to the community, participating in a variety of military and civilian non-profit community activities.
His military education included basic and advanced courses at the Infantry School (1942-43), the Command and General Staff College (1950), the Armed Forces Staff College (1953), and the National War College (1960). He was granted a Master's degree from the Graduate School of Business at Harvard University in 1962 and a Master's degree in International Affairs from George Washington University in 1963.
Major General Williamson's numerous decorations include the Distinguished Service Cross, the Distinguished Service Medal (2 OLC), the Silver Star (5 OLC), the Legion of Merit (OLC), the Bronze Star Medal (3 OLC), the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal (28 OLC), the Purple Heart (4 OLC), the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Master Parachutist Badge and Army Aviator Wings.
At his passing, he was survived by his wife, his children Nan and Dan, his brother Bill, two grandchildren and five grand-grandchildren. Obituary published in the February 25, 2007 issue of The Washington Post.
Highlights of General Williamson's military career include participation in the D Day landings with the 120th Infantry Regiment, and service in the European theater where he commanded at the platoon, company, battalion and regimental levels, earning temporary promotions through the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. In 1950 he was on the planning staff for and participated in the Inchon Landings in Korea, and subsequently served on the X Corps staff. Following instructional and staff assignments in the United States, he assumed command of the 13th Infantry Regiment at Fort Carson, Colorado, and took the Regiment to Germany. In 1959 he became an army paratrooper.
Promoted to Brigadier General in 1963, he organized the 173rd Airborne Brigade (Separate) on Okinawa and took the Brigade into Vietnam in May of 1965, becoming the first United States Army ground combat unit to enter the conflict. In 1966 he became Assistant Commandant at The Infantry School, Fort Benning, GA. Subsequently he was promoted to Major General and assumed command of the Army Training Center at Fort Polk, LA. In 1968 he returned to Vietnam, commanding the 25th "Tropic Lightning" Infantry Division.
He was designated Chief of the US Military Mission in Iran and Personal Advisor to the Shah of Iran in 1971 and subsequently retired in 1973. Following retirement, he continued his life of service to the community, participating in a variety of military and civilian non-profit community activities.
His military education included basic and advanced courses at the Infantry School (1942-43), the Command and General Staff College (1950), the Armed Forces Staff College (1953), and the National War College (1960). He was granted a Master's degree from the Graduate School of Business at Harvard University in 1962 and a Master's degree in International Affairs from George Washington University in 1963.
Major General Williamson's numerous decorations include the Distinguished Service Cross, the Distinguished Service Medal (2 OLC), the Silver Star (5 OLC), the Legion of Merit (OLC), the Bronze Star Medal (3 OLC), the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal (28 OLC), the Purple Heart (4 OLC), the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Master Parachutist Badge and Army Aviator Wings.
At his passing, he was survived by his wife, his children Nan and Dan, his brother Bill, two grandchildren and five grand-grandchildren. Obituary published in the February 25, 2007 issue of The Washington Post.
Born in Raeford, North Carolina, Ellis grew up and went to high school in Raleigh, NC. He served in the North Carolina National Guard during high school and college. He graduated from Atlantic Christian (now Barton) College, Wilson, North Carolina, in 1940 and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant.
Highlights of General Williamson's military career include participation in the D Day landings with the 120th Infantry Regiment, and service in the European theater where he commanded at the platoon, company, battalion and regimental levels, earning temporary promotions through the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. In 1950 he was on the planning staff for and participated in the Inchon Landings in Korea, and subsequently served on the X Corps staff. Following instructional and staff assignments in the United States, he assumed command of the 13th Infantry Regiment at Fort Carson, Colorado, and took the Regiment to Germany. In 1959 he became an army paratrooper.
Promoted to Brigadier General in 1963, he organized the 173rd Airborne Brigade (Separate) on Okinawa and took the Brigade into Vietnam in May of 1965, becoming the first United States Army ground combat unit to enter the conflict. In 1966 he became Assistant Commandant at The Infantry School, Fort Benning, GA. Subsequently he was promoted to Major General and assumed command of the Army Training Center at Fort Polk, LA. In 1968 he returned to Vietnam, commanding the 25th "Tropic Lightning" Infantry Division.
He was designated Chief of the US Military Mission in Iran and Personal Advisor to the Shah of Iran in 1971 and subsequently retired in 1973. Following retirement, he continued his life of service to the community, participating in a variety of military and civilian non-profit community activities.
His military education included basic and advanced courses at the Infantry School (1942-43), the Command and General Staff College (1950), the Armed Forces Staff College (1953), and the National War College (1960). He was granted a Master's degree from the Graduate School of Business at Harvard University in 1962 and a Master's degree in International Affairs from George Washington University in 1963.
Major General Williamson's numerous decorations include the Distinguished Service Cross, the Distinguished Service Medal (2 OLC), the Silver Star (5 OLC), the Legion of Merit (OLC), the Bronze Star Medal (3 OLC), the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal (28 OLC), the Purple Heart (4 OLC), the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Master Parachutist Badge and Army Aviator Wings.
At his passing, he was survived by his wife, his children Nan and Dan, his brother Bill, two grandchildren and five grand-grandchildren. Obituary published in the February 25, 2007 issue of The Washington Post.
Highlights of General Williamson's military career include participation in the D Day landings with the 120th Infantry Regiment, and service in the European theater where he commanded at the platoon, company, battalion and regimental levels, earning temporary promotions through the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. In 1950 he was on the planning staff for and participated in the Inchon Landings in Korea, and subsequently served on the X Corps staff. Following instructional and staff assignments in the United States, he assumed command of the 13th Infantry Regiment at Fort Carson, Colorado, and took the Regiment to Germany. In 1959 he became an army paratrooper.
Promoted to Brigadier General in 1963, he organized the 173rd Airborne Brigade (Separate) on Okinawa and took the Brigade into Vietnam in May of 1965, becoming the first United States Army ground combat unit to enter the conflict. In 1966 he became Assistant Commandant at The Infantry School, Fort Benning, GA. Subsequently he was promoted to Major General and assumed command of the Army Training Center at Fort Polk, LA. In 1968 he returned to Vietnam, commanding the 25th "Tropic Lightning" Infantry Division.
He was designated Chief of the US Military Mission in Iran and Personal Advisor to the Shah of Iran in 1971 and subsequently retired in 1973. Following retirement, he continued his life of service to the community, participating in a variety of military and civilian non-profit community activities.
His military education included basic and advanced courses at the Infantry School (1942-43), the Command and General Staff College (1950), the Armed Forces Staff College (1953), and the National War College (1960). He was granted a Master's degree from the Graduate School of Business at Harvard University in 1962 and a Master's degree in International Affairs from George Washington University in 1963.
Major General Williamson's numerous decorations include the Distinguished Service Cross, the Distinguished Service Medal (2 OLC), the Silver Star (5 OLC), the Legion of Merit (OLC), the Bronze Star Medal (3 OLC), the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal (28 OLC), the Purple Heart (4 OLC), the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Master Parachutist Badge and Army Aviator Wings.
At his passing, he was survived by his wife, his children Nan and Dan, his brother Bill, two grandchildren and five grand-grandchildren. Obituary published in the February 25, 2007 issue of The Washington Post.
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
