Funeral for CSM (Retired) Rowland E. Williams, 85, Elgin will be at 9:30 AM Friday at Western Hills Christian Church with Dave Menge pastor officiating. CSM Williams died Tuesday, June 12, 2012 at his home. Burial with full military honors will be at Fort Sill National Cemetery, Elgin under the direction of Becker Funeral Home & Cremation Service. He was born January 28, 1927 in Mountain Home, North Carolina to Eulice and Belle (Warren) Williams. He married Sharon L. Raley on September 24, 1988 in Lawton. He was drafted into the U.S. Army on April 25, 1945 at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, and completed Basic Infantry Training at Camp Blanding, Florida. CSM Williams' initial assignment was with the 1st Infantry Division in Germany. He returned to the United States in 1949 and served as Chief of Firing Battery in the 92nd Armored Field Artillery Battalion, Fort Hood, Texas. Following the outbreak of the Korean Conflict in 1950, the 92nd Field Artillery Battalion was sent to Korea where it participated in the Inchon Invasion and fought in four major campaigns, including the Hungnam Perimeter. During 1951 - 1954 he served as an instructor in the Officer's Candidate School, Fort Sill, Oklahoma. In 1954-1955, he served as the 1SG, 5th Field Artillery Battalion, 1st Infantry Division, Kitzingen, Germany. When the Division went to Fort Riley, Kansas in 1955, 1SG Williams was assigned to the 18th Field Artillery Battalion, V Corps, Darmstadt, Germany. In 1960 he returned to Fort Sill, Oklahoma and assumed duties as acting CSM of the 1st Battalion, 36th Field Artillery until 1962 when he returned to Korea as 1SG of the 1st Battalion, 17th Field Artillery. In 1963 he returned again to Fort Sill, Oklahoma and became the acting CSM of the 1st Battalion, 36th Field Artillery. From 1965 - 1975, Command Sergeant Major Williams served as CSM of the 2nd Battalion, 28th Field Artillery; 2d Infantry Division, Korea; VII Corps Artillery, Stuttgart, Germany; V Corps Artillery, Darmstadt, Germany; and served in XII Corps Artillery, Vietnam. Command Sergeant Major Williams had been the CSM of VII Corps, United States Army, Europe since 1975. His awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal with V Device and 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal with 4 Awards, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal with 5 Oak Leaf Clusters, Good Conduct Medal with II Clasps, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal, Army of Occupation Medal - Japan, Army of Occupation Medal - Germany, National Defense Service Medal with 1st Oak Leaf Cluster, Korean Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal with 1st Oak Leaf Cluster, Vietnam Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, Vietnam Staff Service Medal 2d class, Expert Infantry Badge, German Marksmanship Badge (Gold), Expert Rifle Badge and the Presidential Unit Citation. CSM Williams wore a total of 23 personal awards on the uniform and had received innumerable certificates of achievement and personal letters. He retired from active military duty on May 31, 1980 at Fort Jackson, South Carolina with more than 35 continuous years of distinguished military service encompassing service in World War II, the Korean Conflict and the Vietnam War. Survivors include his wife, of the home, a son, Steven Williams, Elgin, two daughters, Debora Penney, Lakeland, Florida and Diana Steffens, Texas, a step daughter, Debbie Koehler, Elgin, three sisters and many grandchildren, nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers and a sister.