Military Service
After being drafted in 1942, Dr. James Williams was initially assigned to the Army Medical Corps, but transferred to the Army Air Corps soon after. Following technical training at Yale University, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant and served as an Engineering Officer for the Tuskegee Airmen. Following the segregation of officers' clubs, Dr. Williams and 101 other officers protested the decision by refusing to follow the discriminatory order. In retaliation for this act of protest, the Black American officers were arrested and tried in a military court. Instead of backing down, Dr. James Williams chose to defend himself at his hearing and ultimately won his case. In 1946, Dr. William’s military career came to a close, marked by advocacy and principled service.