Tribute to a Generation: Haydn Williams and the Building of the World War II Memorial

Ambassador F. Haydn Williams played a crucial role in creating the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C. He was a naval officer sent to Japan to repatriate POWs, worked for the CIA, and was appointed to negotiate Micronesia's status. He assembled a talented team to select the site, complete the design, and overcome opposition, with the aid of luminaries such as Senator Bob Dole, FedEx Chair Fred Smith, and actor Tom Hanks.

\n Format: Hardback
\n Length: 240 pages
\n Publication date: 30 October 2020
\n Publisher: Naval Institute Press
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Tribute to a Generation pays homage to the remarkable and often overlooked contributions of Ambassador F. Haydn Williams in the creation of the World War II Memorial in Washington. As a naval officer dispatched to Japan at the close of World War II, Williams rose to prominence within the Eisenhower and Kennedy Administrations. He played a crucial role in establishing a trans-Pacific think-tank, which he transformed into a prominent non-profit organization focused on Asian affairs. Additionally, he served as an ambassador tasked with negotiating the status of Micronesia. Williams viewed the recognition of the Greatest Generation as his ultimate life mission, and he sought the assistance of a close friend, former Joint Chiefs Chairman Admiral Bill Crowe, to secure an appointment to the American Battle Monuments Commission. Diplomat and master of organization, Williams assembled a skilled team to select the site, finalize the design, and collaborate with renowned architect Friedrich St. Florian and sculptor Ray Kaskey, with the support of notable figures such as Senator Bob Dole, FedEx Chair Fred Smith, and actor Tom Hanks, to overcome fierce opposition and complete the memorial.

\n Weight: 540g\n
Dimension: 160 x 236 x 25 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9781682475430\n \n