Achidzokera kuUnited States somukuru mukuru weWatertown Arsenal, akaendazve kuEurope pakupera kwa1914 somucherechedzi wemauto eAmerica neuto reGermany kwemwedzi mitanhatu. Iye zvino ava lieutenant colonel, akatorazve mabasa neJoint Gun Forgings Board kubva muna May 1915 kusvika muna June 1916. Mushure memwedzi misere semukuru wezvombo zvehondo weDhipatimendi reMaodzanyemba reMauto panguva yekusundirwa kwemauto eArmy Regular neNational Guard zvikamu zvePunitive Expedition
, akadanwa kuWashington pakupera kwaFebruary 1917, kuti ave mutevedzeri womukuru wezvombo. Kupinda kweAmerica muHondo Yenyika I muna April 1917, akaenda kuFrance semukuru mukuru wemauto emauto eAmerica. Williams akapedza mwedzi gumi nerimwe ari ikoko, panguva iyo akakwidziridzwa makirasi maviri kusvika pachinzvimbo che brigadier general.