MG Harvey Dean Williams, US Army, (Ret.)

HARVEY DEAN WILLIAMS SR.

MAJOR GENERAL, UNITED STATES ARMY (RET.), 90, passed away peacefully surrounded by loved ones at home in Maryland on August 7, 2020, due to Parkinson’s disease. He is predeceased by his son Mark E. Williams, his parents Matthew Dean Williams and Addie Haynes Williams, and his brothers Matthew James Williams and Leon P. Williams (Lillian). He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Mary E. (Glenn) Williams, son Harvey Dean Williams Jr. (Jessica), daughters Karen Williams, Mignon Khargie Fowler (Thomas), and Joyce L. Williams (Delancy Jackson). He was the proud “G-Pop” of granddaughter Hannah Rose Fowler and “Pop-Pop” to grandson Mark Dean Williams. He is survived and deeply loved by numerous cousins, in-laws, colleagues, family, and friends.

He was a son of North Carolina: born in Whiteville in 1930, raised in Durham, and a proud member of the Hillside High School Class of 1946 (at age 15). He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science at West Virginia State College at age 19, and his Master of Science degree in International Affairs at George Washington University. He holds his place in history as the 16th black general in U.S. history and the 1st in North Carolina’s history.

His kindness, wisdom, thoughtfulness, loyal friendship, loving empathy, and quick intelligent humor captured our hearts. His kind manner, warm spirit, extraordinary intellect, incomparable and amazing gift for communicating, respectful leadership, and confident presence commanded every room. His unwavering faith in God, commitment to his family, and hopeful determination and perseverance were inspiring. He is deeply loved, missed, and will always be remembered. We were blessed by beyond measure to have him in our lives.

A memorial service at Fort Myer Old Post Memorial Chapel, and interment at Arlington National Cemetery will be held on Friday April 16, 2021 at 10:45 AM for 50 family and friends due to COVID-19 restrictions. A livestream of the service by Arlington Media Inc. is available at: https://youtu.be/ed68ImbCsSw

Family and Friends may use this site to offer condolences, find information on his military career, or send plants to the family of MG Harvey Dean Williams, US Army, (Ret.) More information on his life and career can also be found at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harvey_D_Williams.

MILITARY CAREER:

Commanding General, First US Army (interim)

Deputy Commanding General, First US Army

Commanding General, US Army Readiness & Mobilization Region III

Deputy Inspector General, US Army

Commanding General, VII Corps Artillery & Community Commander

Chief of Staff, Military District of Washington

Deputy Commanding General, Military District of Washington

Post Commander, Fort Myer, Virginia

Brigade Commander, 75th Field Artillery Group

Senior Military Adviser, Arms Control and Disarmament Agency (Dept. of Defense)

Director, Security Division, Asst Chief of Staff Intelligence, Dept. of the Army

Commanded 3 Artillery Batteries - one in combat in Korea; one in Germany

Commanded 2 Battalions - one in combat in Vietnam

Participation in Desert Rock, Atomic Bomb Detonation - Nevada

SERVICE DECORATIONS, CIVILIAN HONORS, AND AWARDS:

Legion of Merit

2 Bronze Stars; 2 Meritorious Service Medals; 5 Air Medals; 5 Army Commendation Medals

Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm – government of South Vietnam

United Nations Service Medal

Meritorious Service – Secretary of Veterans Affairs

Order of the Long Leaf Pine – Governor, State of North Carolina

Meritorious Service Medal – Governor, State of Delaware

Honorary Distinguished Citizen – Governor, State of West Virginia

WVSU ROTC Hall of Fame – Charter Member

Man of the Year Award – Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity

Heroes in Business: RMOA & SDVE

Key to the City of Durham – 1991

Honorary Mayor/Bürgermeister of Augsburg

16th Black US Army General

1st Black US Army General from North Carolina

EDUCATION:

Master of Science Degree (International Affairs) – George Washington University – Washington, DC – 1972

Bachelor of Arts (Political Science) – West Virginia State College (University), Institute – 1950

Hillside High School – Graduate – Durham, NC – 1946

Advanced Officers Course – Graduate

Armed Forces Staff College – Distinguished Graduate – Norfolk, VA

US Naval War College – Distinguished Graduate – Newport, RI

Senior Executives Management Program, Harvard University – Cambridge, MA

ORGANIZATIONS AND VOLUNTEER WORK:

Dept. of Veterans Affairs—Mentor-Protege

Security Coordinator, Joint Chiefs of Staff for President Carter’s Inauguration

Member of The ROCKS, Inc.

Member of AUSA

Board of Directors, MSTI

1978 activism against discrimination of black American soldiers in Germany made international headlines and caused Mayor of Augsburg to change policies

EVP & COO—in IT, bringing technology to diverse communities

CARE water project—bringing water to Mozambique and South Africa