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Reid Gardiner, Grand Secretary Emeritus

Col. Frank M. (Machine Gun) When the U.S. entered into World
Williams - Frank Marion Williams War 1, Frank Williams entered
was Born July 4, 1879, at Storm Lake, into the Army. In 1917, he was
Buena Vista County, Iowa. Frank M. commissioned a Lieutenant in the
Williams moved with his parents and Cavalry on completion of the rst
family to Colorado in 1884. His father O cers Training Camp at Fort
took a position with a Saw-Mill on McPherson, Georgia. He was sent to
Rock Creek near Red Lodge Montana Harvard University to train under
in 1886. About 1890, he moved to the French Commission and to Camp
Big Horn Basin area of Wyoming. Gordon, Georgia, and assigned to the
famous 325th Infantry, 82nd Division
Williams became a member of of the A.E.F. during World War 1. He
Bu alo Bill's Wild West Show from brigaded with the French at the Toul
1896-1898. Riding from the Big Horn Sector in June 1918. He was attached to
Basin, Wyoming. His act included Gen. Pershing's Sta and participated
shooting, a pick-up act, riding wild in the Sain Mehield o ensive and the
horses, and vaulting. Argonne Forest Drive. On October
Figure 1. Major Frank Marion Williams 11, 1918, Captain Williams was shot
Along with Col. William Cody portrait by Joseph Cummings Chase. NHAM. through the neck by a sniper. He tied
(Bu alo Bill), Frank Williams his handkerchief around the wounds
organized the ill-fated Bu alo Bill Cavalry School in at the front and back of the neck and the wounds were
Cody, Wyoming, at which he was to be an instructor. never treated. He stayed continuously in the line. On
He maintained a life long friendship with Bill Cody, October 15, four days later he received orders to Hill
who would visit with the Williams family at their 182.³
home in Florida.
e following is taken from: " e O cial History
Frank graduated from Omaha Business College of 82nd Division American Expeditionary Forces, All
in 1898 and attended Northwestern University in American Division."
Chicago. He moved to Lander, Wyoming, and worked
at the First National Bank. en moved to Cody, " e A air on Hill 182 – e order of events now
Wyoming, where he became involved with Banking; moves farther to the west, where a very extraordinary
he also bought and operated a ranch near Cody. He a air raged for a half-day on top of Hill 182 and le
was part of the group that founded the town of Cody, that strategic point in the possession of the 82nd
Wyoming, and served as the Secretary of the rst Division. e 82nd Division regards the exploit on
Board of Trade. He was also appointed rst Deputy Hill 182 during the forenoon of the 15th as one of the
Sheri of Big Horn County, and later Park County, striking episodes in the war, and a brilliant example of
Wyoming. success won against great odds by a small American
unit. e whole business smacks of modern knight-
Frank Williams began his military career in 1899 errantry.
at the age of 20, when he enlisted in the Wyoming Capt. Frank M. Williams, commanding the 325th
National Guard, where he served ten years. He was Machine Gun Company, had been directed to take
in command of the National Guard Troops at the his company to Hill 182 and from there to support
trials following the rangeland war between cattlemen by machine-gun re the advance of the Division's
in 1909, and in the same year shot on the Wyoming le ank. At about 6 hours, Captain Williams sent
Ri e Team at Camp Perry, Ohio, where he quali ed as runners to his company, then supporting the line of
an expert ri eman. Frank Williams le the West for the 325th Infantry, directing his Lieutenant to move
Florida in 1910, settling in Tampa, where he engaged the company on to Hill 182. Captain Williams started
in real estate. alone for the Hill intending to reconnoiter machine-
gun positions before the arrival of his men.

Montana Freemason Page 10 Sept/Oct 2020 Volume 96 No. 5