Lt. Col. Charles Williams was the second United States Property and Disbursing Officer serving from 1919 until his death, at age 55 in 1926. Williams served as State Quartermaster circa 1897 through his 1917 entry into World War I service with the 32d Division as its Quartermaster. He was also Quartermaster with the Wisconsin 3rd Infantry Regiment and saw service in Puerto Rico during the short lived Spanish-American War of 1898.

Williams was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel by Governor Emanuel Phillip and honored in a ceremony held in a tent on Camp Williams on Friday, July 13th 1917. A featured speaker that evening was Colonel Robert McCoy - the same McCoy for whom a Camp (like the honored guest) would be named. Two days later, Williams 'answered the call' and was mustered in to Federal service on August 5th, 1917 where he would serve until April 18th, 1919.

On September 16th, 1919 he was appointed United States Property and Disbursing Officer for Wisconsin. In the early days of USP&DOs, incumbents were 'dual-hatted' and occupied positions in the State guard; Lt. Col Williams was no exception. On April 1st, 1924, he was assigned as the 32d Division Quartermaster and simultaneous command of the Q.M. Section, HQ 32d Division - in this instance, perhaps 'triple-hatted'!

Lt. Col. Williams was lauded by Ralph Immell, the Wisconsin Adjutant General, in a December 1923 efficiency report as a "hard working, trustworthy, ambitious and efficient officer. His untiring efforts as State Quartermaster, Camp Quartermaster and USP&DO for State of Wisconsin have aided materially in bringing the Wisconsin National Guard to its present high state of efficiency."

During his career as USP&DO, he was very active in the National Guard Association of the United States serving as a Wisconsin delegate to several national conventions.

Lt. Col Williams suffered a stroke, took a 4 month leave of absence and tendered his resignation as USP&DO on June 5th, 1926; the Militia Bureau of the War Department accepted his resignation effective June 17th, 1926. He suffered a second stroke after initial recovery and a third stroke on September 15th, 1926 at his home on the military reservation proved to be fatal.

Because of his long service as at the Wisconsin Military Reservation and his recognized excellence as a "planner and builder', the Wisconsin State legislature in 1927, renamed the reservation in his honor and is called to this day, 'Camp Williams'.

Lt. Col Williams is one of three individuals buried in the small cemetery just inside the gate of Camp Williams/Volk Field. Occupying a grave close by are the remains of his son, Robert Williams, who died of influenza aboard an AEF troop ship en route to France in 1918.

Bio researched by contributor #48159789.

Wisconsin Colonel Dies
At Douglas Reservation
Charles R. Williams Known
as "Best Quartermaster in
World War"
Camp Douglas — (AP)— Lieutenant
Colonel Charles R. Williams, chief
quartermaster of the Wisconsin Na-
tional guard, died at his home on the
military reservation here at 2:20
Wednesday morning. His death fol-
lowed an illness of several months.
He was 56 years old. Colonel Wil-
liams suffered a stroke of paralysis
early last spring, and a second stroke
in June caused him to be confined to
his bed.
He was a native of Wisconsin, born
at Rio in 1870. He enlisted in the
Wisconsin National guard in 1888
and continued in military service un-
til his death. The late Major Gen-
eral W. G. Haan often referred to
Colonel Williams as the "best quart-
ermaster in the United States army
during the world war."
Colonel Williams built Camp Doug-
las. For 26 years, excepting the time
he was abroad in the world war. he
was in direct charge of it. His home
was within the camp grounds. His
only son, "Billy" Williams died in for-
eign service. Colonel Williams is sur-
vived by his widow and one brother.
--Appleton Post Crescent; Wednesday, September 15, 1926, Appleton, Wisconsin