Thomas Fort Williamson (SN O-071360) was born 29 August 1911, in Prattville, Alabama. His parents were James Otis Williamson (1881-1948) and Julia Sadler (1892-1983). His father was a pharmacist. Pete grew up in Montgomery, Alabama, and graduated from Starke University School. He had a brother, James Otis Williamson, who served in the Army.

Pete graduated from the US Naval Academy in 1932 and was commissioned an Ensign. The 1932 Lucky Bag notes that “Pete always has a smile for everyone.” His early assignments included the USS Colorado (BB-45). In 1936 he attended the Submarine School, Submarine Base, New London, Connecticut. He was initially assigned to USS Cachalot (SS-170), which was in an overhaul at the New York Navy Yard. He married James Hamilton Brashears on 12 March 1938 in Groton, Connecticut. He was later assigned to USS Hatfield (DD-231) and the US Naval Academy. The 1940 Federal Census shows Pete and his wife living in Boston, Massachusetts.

In July 1940, LT Williamson was assigned to the USS S-31 (SS-136) and became the Navigator in November 1940. He later became the Executive Officer (July 1941) and then the Commanding Officer (November 1941). The USS S-31 was commissioned on 11 May 1922, and had been decommissioned in 1937. She was recommissioned in September 1940 and operated on the east coast until an overhaul in November 1941 in Philadelphia. After the overhaul, S-31 conducted two defensive war patrols in the approaches to the Panama Canal. In March 1942, S-31 headed to San Diego, California. In June 1942, S-31 was enroute to Alaska. On 7 July 1942, she departed Dutch Harbor for her third war patrol in the Aleutians.

On 10 August 1942, in the area around the island of Bososlof, which is located about 60 miles northwest of Dutch Harbor Naval Base, the crew were handling an older model signal flare, which had been removed from service in July 1942, but were still being used on the S-31 because the order had not reached S-31. During the handling of these flares one, or more, ignited and struck LCDR Williamson in the chest on the right side causing a severe puncture wound. Also injured in the incident was LTJG James Edward Tearney. After the accident a Navy float plane (PBY) was sent to carry LCDR Williamson and LTJG Tearney to Dutch Harbor to be treated. LCDR Williamson remained in Dutch Harbor for 18 days before dying of what is described as a sudden massive hemorrhage around the injury on 28 August 1942. He was initially buried in the cemetery at Dutch Harbor. His remains were later relocated to Oakwood Annex Cemetery, Montgomery, Alabama. [LT Tearney would later die in a plane crash while being evacuated to Seattle on 25 August 1942.]

LCDR Williamson received the Defense Service Medal, American Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, and World War II Victory Medal.

He was survived by his wife James Hamilton Brashears Williamson of Montgomery, Alabama, and his son Thomas Fort Williamson, III who was born in 1940.

Sources:

FindAGrave Memorial ID 36857278 (LCDR Thomas Fort “Pete” Williamson (1911-1942) - Find a Grave Memorial)

U.S., Headstone Applications for Military Veterans, 1925-1970 (Ancestry.com - U.S., Headstone Applications for Military Veterans, 1925-1970)

1920, 1930, and 1940 US Federal Census

National Archives, US Submarine War Patrol Reports, 1941-1945 (National Archives NextGen Catalog)

Newspaper.com

· The Montgomery Advertiser (Montgomery, Alabama), Sunday, 20 June 1943, page 9.

· The Decatur Daily (Decatur, Alabama), Monday, 31 August 1942, page 3.

· The Montgomery Advertiser (Montgomery, Alabama), Wednesday, 4 July 1928, page 1 and 2.

· The Montgomery Advertiser (Montgomery, Alabama), Sunday, 13 March 1938, page 18 and 19.

· Alabama Journal (Montgomery, Alabama), Wednesday, 22 September 1948, page 3.

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LCDR Thomas Fort Williamson, USN