William Appleman Williams: A Brief Biography

William Appleman Williams will always be best known for his controversial writings and radical views of America. In his obituary the New York Times wrote that he was “a historian known for his sharp critiques of American foreign policy”. William’s is often seen as one of the most influential historian’s of the 20th century, and for good reason. His works on the Cold War have helped historians re-evaluate the impact that it had, not only to the United States, but on the entire world. William’s was a product of his environment and was shaped by the events of the world around him. William’s lived a life that is difficult to put into words and during his time faced many different challenges. From the son of an Air Force Pilot through serving …show more content…
His basketball exploits at Atlantic High School would help him to earn a scholarship to the Kemper Military Academy. It was during his time at Kemper that Williams would become more serious about his studies. He would eventually move on from the academy, thanks to a Congressional appointment by a Republican Congressman from Iowa to the Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland. During his time at the Naval Academy William’s would study engineering. As an officer producing school attendees of the Naval Academy must serve as an Officer in the United States Navy for a period of time after graduating. This would not only further William’s education but would allow him to see the ever changing world first hand thanks the outbreak of World War II. In 1944 William’s would volunteer to serve as the Executive Officer aboard a landing ship in the pacific as part of the Navy Amphibious Corps. The job of the amphibious corps was to insert offensive troops into hostile military areas making it a critical and dangerous operation during World War II. It would be during one of these missions that William’s would be wounded earning a purple heart and moving him off the front lines in order to recover at a base in Corpus Christi over the next thirteen …show more content…
It is here that all of things he has seen and lived through at this point will start to allow him to truly become the self-proclaimed radical. While in Corpus Christi recovering Williams would follow in his father footsteps and begin training as a Naval flyer while recovering from his injuries, he would later say in an interview that he knew that “I would never be that good”. He later writes that while recovering in Corpus Christi, he was able to see the relationships between large corporations, the military, different religious entities, and local businessman and politicians. This interaction that he describes would help to solidify his foundation of beliefs that America was failing due to its current economic ventures both domestic and abroad. This would also be the location where William’s would first venture into politics, a move that would eventually get William’s into trouble with the Navy. While in Corpus Christi Williams would partner with the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) by editing a newsletter and helping combat racial inequality and discrimination in local businesses. Due to his strong sense of community developed at such a young age, it makes sense that Williams would take such a vested interest in his new, albeit temporary, home. Williams would be quoted as saying in reference to the values taught to him by his family “The more I got out in the world, the