Battle of Cape Esperance
John Leon Williamson was born 5 November 1921 in Ash, North Carolina. He enlisted in the Navy at Raleigh, North Carolina on 11 July 1940. After recruit training, he was assigned to cruiser . He was on board the cruiser during the Attack on Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941 and the initial American amphibious assault of the war on Guadalcanal. He also took part in the American victory at the night Battle of Cape Esperance in October.