Williams (Juliene) papers, bulk 1970-1988

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Summary

Title:
Juliene Williams papers
Dates:
bulk 1970-1988
Creators:
Williams, Juliene, -2011 and Hill, Gordon C.
Abstract:
Correspondence, notes, newsletters, printed matter, photographs, memorabilia, and personal documents relating to American prisoners of war and missing in action in the Vietnam War, and to activities of the National League of Families of American Prisoners and Missing in Southeast Asia. Includes the papers of William's first husband, Captain Gordon C. Hill, who was reported missing in action in Laos in 1970.
Extent:
15 manuscript boxes, 1 oversize box (7.3 Linear Feet)
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Juliene Williams papers, [Box no., Folder no. or title], Hoover Institution Library & Archives.

Background

Scope and content:

The Juliene Williams papers contain correspondence, notes, newsletters, printed matter, photographs, memorabilia, and personal documents relating to American prisoners of war (POW) and missing in action (MIA) in the Vietnam War, mainly from the years 1970 to 1988. Included are the papers of her first husband, Captain Gordon C. Hill, who was reported MIA in Laos in 1970. The papers document Williams' activities with POW/MIA organizations, such as the National League of Families of American Prisoners and Missing in Southeast Asia, as well as her own efforts to raise awareness of MIA issues and to uncover more information about what happened to her husband.

The Correspondence section contains Williams' personal correspondence with government officials, family, and friends. Much of the correspondence relates to POW/MIA issues and letter writing campaigns against Bo Gritz, a former United States Army Special Forces officer who had conducted a series of private trips to Vietnam in the 1980s to search for live POWs. Correspondence can also be found in the POW/MIA Research File, organized by topic.

The Air Force File contains materials Williams received from the Air Force following Hill's MIA status. This includes her official notification of his status, subsequent updates on his status, mailings sent to all MIA families, and copies of documents from Hill's official case file. It also includes her correspondence with the Air Force requesting more information about her husband's case.

Mailings, correspondence, newsletters, notes, ephemera, and other printed mater related to Williams' involvement with POW/MIA organizations can be found in the Organizations File. It includes material documenting the activities of the National League of Families of American Prisoners and Missing in Southeast Asia, also known as the National League of POW/MIA Families, from 1970 to 2010. It also includes meeting minutes, notes, and other material from the Friends of the POW/MIA League of Santa Clara County, with whom Williams held positions as public relations officer and treasurer. Although the group dissolved in 1974, Williams remained friends with many women from this group, which is documented in the Correspondence series.

Most of the material related directly to Captain Gordon C. Hill can be found in the Gordon C. Hill Biographical File, Oversize Material, and Memorabilia sections. The Biographical File contains some of Hill's personal papers, including his baby book, yearbooks, photographs, and Air Force training records. Military awards and medals Hill received can be found in the Oversize Material and Memorabilia series.

The POW/MIA Research File contains news clippings, correspondence, and notes organized by Williams according to subject. Additional news clippings and articles relating to Vietnam POW/MIA issues and organized by year can be found in the News File. All other printed matter, including periodicals, is located in the Printed Matter section.

Biographical / historical:

Juliene Williams (nÊe Afton Andrews) was the wife of Captain Gordon Clark Hill, a United States Air Force pilot who was reported missing in action (MIA) in Laos in 1970.

Williams was born on July 11, 1946 to Paul J. and Marilyn Andrews in Payson, Utah and attended high schools in Washington, Montana, and Colorado. She graduated from New Mexico State University (NMSU) in 1968. While attending NMSU, Williams met Gordon C. Hill (born October 9,1944), also known as "Bud." They married on January 22, 1966 and together had a son, Brian Ray Hill, born February 4, 1968.

Gordon C. Hill entered the Air Force in May 1967. In 1969, Hill was transferred to the Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base as part of the 469th Tactical Fighter Squadron. On June 30, 1970, Hill and Captain Mitchell O. Sadler, Jr. were declared missing in action (MIA) after their plane failed to meet a refueling tanker during a reconnaissance mission in central Laos. Hill's status was changed from MIA to KIA (killed in action) in 1978.

Shortly after receiving news of her husband's MIA status, Juliene Williams moved to Palo Alto, California and became actively involved with Vietnam prisoner of war (POW) and MIA organizations. She was a member of the National League of Families of American Prisoners and Missing in Southeast Asia and served in leadership roles with the Friends of the POW/MIA League of Santa Clara County.

Juliene Williams married Thomas E. Williams on December 6, 1980, with whom she had a second child, Afton Elizabeth Williams. With Thomas she ran AIW, Inc., a plumbing, hardware, and lighting business in downtown Palo Alto for several years. Juliene Williams died on February 8, 2011.

Acquisition information:
Acquired by the Hoover Institution Library Archives in 2012.
Physical location:
Hoover Institution Library & Archives
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Finding aid prepared by Paige Minister
Date Encoded:
This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2026-02-23 10:02:58.031200

Access and use

Restrictions:

The collection is open for research; materials must be requested in advance via our reservation system. If there are audiovisual or digital media material in the collection, they must be reformatted before providing access.

Terms of access:

For copyright status, please contact the Hoover Institution Library & Archives.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Juliene Williams papers, [Box no., Folder no. or title], Hoover Institution Library & Archives.

Location of this collection:
Hoover Institution Library & Archives, Stanford University
Stanford, CA 94305-6003, US
Contact:
(650) 723-3563
hooverarchives@stanford.edu
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