Herbert ‘Herb’ Evans Williams was born in Canadian, TX, on Aug 28, 1930. While in high school, Herb worked three jobs after school in order to put two brothers through the University of Texas. He credited his work at the theater for much of his knowledge of a wide range of subjects, for on the first of the month he would buy several magazines and read them while he was running the movie projector. After high school, he attended West Texas State University for one year on a football scholarship, majoring in physics. Then, in 1950, he received an appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point. That same year he met La Rue who became his bride on Jun 9, 1954, and was his friend and companion for 57 years.
At the Academy, Herb was assigned to Company M-2. After graduation, he was commissioned in the Artillery. After attending the Basic Officers Course at Ft. Sill, OK, he was assigned to the 1st Armored Division, Ft. Hood, TX. In the fall of 1955, 1st Armored was sent to Ft. Polk, LA, where they re-opened Camp Polk. Herb often told the story that while 1st Armored was on maneuvers there he spent Thanksgiving in the field. As he sat in the pouring rain under a tall pine tree, he watched his cranberry sauce run off his mess gear.
In 1959 Herb went to Redstone Arsenal to train with Werner Von Braun on the Redstone missile. After completing the study, Herbert was assigned to Ft. Sill, where he became the commander of Battery A, 4th Missile Battalion (Redstone), 333rd Artillery. At that time, the missile was taken from Ft. Sill to White Sands, NM, for firing. On May 17, 1958, Battery A, under his command, successfully conducted the first tactical firing of the Redstone Missile at White Sands. In 1959, when NASA was preparing to launch John Glenn into sub-orbital flight using a Redstone booster and a capsule modified for human flight, the prime contractor in support of the propulsion ran out of people trained to operate the booster system (Redstone). Battery A sent six enlisted men—trained by Herb—to Cape Canaveral to run the system before and at launch. Few of us will ever forget that first flight into space.
Herb served in Korea in 1959 where he was a general’s aide. He then returned, once again, to Ft. Sill. In 1960, he, along with 20 other American officers and four Canadian officers, was sent to Ft. Bliss, TX, to attend the 1181 Guided Missile Systems Officers Course, the Army’s equivalent of a master’s degree in missile systems. After attending the course Herb was stationed at Ft. Bliss, for three years.
During his 21 years of active Army service he earned a master’s degree in nuclear physics from Tulane University (1966). From graduate school, Herbert went to Ft. Leavenworth, KS, where he attended the Command and General Staff College. While there, he often helped chaperone dances at Mt. St. Scholastica College where La Rue was teaching. The nuns and young women attending the school were always fascinated with this tall Texan in his dress blues.
Herb went from Ft. Leavenworth to Vietnam. He was stationed on the DMZ during the Tet Offensive and was awarded the Bronze Star while there. Herb was then assigned to the Office of the Chief of Research and Development in Washington, DC. He had a challenging assignment: He wrote the first series of classes and instruction in digital devices and computers for Air Defense hardware and equipment in the Army.
In 1971, Herb was sent to Nuremberg, Germany, where he commanded an Honest John rocket battalion (2nd Battalion, 16th Artillery). In 1973-74, he was assigned to Stuttgart where he was involved in the re-organization of EUSEUR.
Herb’s last military assignment was at Redstone Arsenal High Energy Laser Office, from where he retired in 1975. He immediately went to work with a consulting firm, Schaffer Associates. He spent the next 16 years working for different consulting firms in Huntsville, AL. He retired in 1991.
One of the first things Herb did after he retired was purchase a PC. He taught himself five computer languages and, at one time, had four computers downstairs and two upstairs, all networked together. It was not unusual to find all six computers playing each other in chess. Herb’s home became the last stopping place for discarded computers. He would ride around picking up computers that had been left at the curb; then, he would repair them and donate them to local schools.
Herb was a man of action and strength of purpose. He was undaunted by the challenge of major medical problems caused by his exposure to Agent Orange. This soldier succumbed on Oct 15, 2011, and was buried from Trinity United Methodist Church in Huntsville where he was a member. Herbert was interred in Valhalla Cemetery, Huntsville, with military honors.
He is survived by his wife, LaRue; a son, Kirk; two daughters, Janetta Huffman and Elizabeth Abel; and six grandchildren.
Herb loved his country and served it well. He deserves the accolade "Well Done."
—La Rue B. Williams, wife, & Warren Palmer, M-2 Companymate