Samuel Tankersley Williams

Samuel Tankersley Williams

Born	August 25, 1897 Denton, Texas, United States
Died	April 26, 1984 (aged 86) San Antonio, Texas, United States
Buried at	Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, Texas, United States
Allegiance	United States
Service/branch	United States Army
Years of service	1916–1960
Rank	Lieutenant General
Unit	Infantry Branch
Commands held	378th Infantry Regiment 26th Infantry Regiment 25th Infantry Division XVI Corps IX Corps Fourth Army Military Assistance and Advisory Group, Vietnam
Battles/wars	Pancho Villa Expedition World War I World War II Korean War Vietnam War
Awards	Distinguished Service Cross Army Distinguished Service Medal Silver Star Legion of Merit Purple Heart Soldier's Medal Bronze Star

Lieutenant General Samuel Tankersley Williams (August 25, 1897 – April 26, 1984) was a senior United States Army officer. Williams became prominent in army history for being reduced in rank from brigadier general to colonel, and then resuscitating his career to again advance to general officer rank. He also commanded the 25th Infantry Division during the Korean War and served as commander of Military Assistance and Advisory Group – Vietnam, the predecessor to Military Assistance Command – Vietnam.

Williams was born on August 25, 1897 in Denton, Texas. In May, 1916 he enlisted as a private in the Texas Army National Guard and took part in the expedition against Pancho Villa. Having claimed an 1896 date of birth in order to meet the minimum age for a commission, in August, 1917, four months after the American entry into World War I, Williams completed the officers training course at Camp Bullis, Leon Springs, Texas and received an appointment as a second lieutenant in the Infantry Branch of the Officer Reserve Corps.