Celebrating and Honoring the Men in My Family Who Served in the Armed Forces

This Memorial Day marked the 10th anniversary of my father's death. I honor him and the Heroes in the Maybelline Family.  

This is what Chicago looked like when my grandfather William Preston Williams joined the Navy in 1917.  He was just 18 years old with visions of being a War Hero.  Like so many boy's from the Lost Generation he imagined the war would quickly end and he'd return unscathed by the ravages of battle - only to be greatly disillusioned with a broken spirit.
This is what was going on in the Maybelline Family at the same time.  Tom Lyle introduced Maybelline to the public as Silent Film became popular and Silent Film Stars were seen on screen with heavily made up eyes.

Theda Bara "THE VAMP" - 1917.  This is what was going on in Hollywood when WW1 broke out.  Women began to be conscious of the their eyes and buy Maybelline.  An interesting fact -  Maybelline was sent in an unmarked package insuring the buyer her privacy since Maybelline was so frowned upon at the time.

1917 Maybelline became available through mail order. 

Scene from the Silent Film WINGS.  This is what Preston was heading into.  He was a rear gunner on one of those Flying Sticks in the sky

My grandfather, Preston Williams, with his parents Susan and TJ.  His mother was grief stricken after already losing her first son, Pearl to TB and the thought of losing another son to War was too much for her.  TJ on the other hand was proud his son was fighting for his Country like so many Patriots that went before him in the Williams Family.  He also thought the Navy might straighten his wild card son up a bit. 

  
Preston would return from WWl, with Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome.  Here he is with his little sister Eva on the left, Frances Allen, Tom Lyle Williams Noel James Williams and Bennie Gibbs.

Mabel Williams on the left with her brother Preston, Helen, one of the first Maybelline models, Frances Allen Williams, Bennie Gibbs and Tom Lyle Williams in front of his new "PAGE "Convertible in Chicago. 
Tom Lyle enlisted as well but was denyed service because he was the sole supporter of his entire family according to his draft card in 1917.  Noel was married to Frances and also supported the family managing the Maybelline Company. He might have been too old for service at the time. 
Maybelline Ad during WW11, promoting War Bonds
My father, Bill Williams, in the Philippines 
                        Maybelline Ad during WWll.


My Father's first cousin, Noel A. Williams,  joined the Navy right out of High School.
            Noel A. in his Navy uniform during WWll.


My father's first cousin - (on his mother Evelyn Boecher Williams side) - Bill Stroh, on the right.,during WWll.
I have done several posts about Bill Stroh and his 1965 Shelby, gt350 Mustang racing car.