25 SEP 2021, transfer, sighted; added gender. 1) Bio section as written by the original creator of the memorial has been retained, and is below the divider. 2) Suggestions, additions or corrections can be submitted to the current maintainer of the memorial. 3) FAG does not have drop-down menu choice for the correct rank, though this is a common rank - Technician Fifth Grade (abbreviated as T/5 or TEC 5) was a United States Army technician rank during World War II. In many units, those who held this rank were addressed as Corporal, though were often called a "Tech Corporal". Technicians possessed specialized skills that were rewarded with a higher pay grade, but had no command authority. The pay grade number corresponded with the technician's rank. T/5 was under the pay grade 5, along with Corporal. Technicians were easily distinguished by the "T" imprinted on the standard chevron design for that pay grade.

∼Willie James Briggs Jr, 85, of Vian, Oklahoma died Wednesday, August 10, 2005, in Muskogee, Oklahoma. He was born October 8, 1919 in Morrilton, Arkansas. He was a truck driver, a Christian and Army veteran.

Funeral was held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at First Baptist Church in Vian with burial at Rose Lawn Cemetery in Vian under the direction of Agent Funeral Home of Sallisaw.

He is survived by his wife; a daughter/ three sons; four sisters; Geraldine, Martha, Amy, and Bernice; two brothers, L.V. Briggs of Vian, Oklahoma and Ripple Briggs, Sr, of Tulsa, Oklahoma; 50 grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.

Information was contributed to Find A Grave by Tonia Holleman if you have any additional information or corrections you can contact Tonia at [email protected]

Addition information supplied by Johnie Briggs-Taylor a niece.