James e williams biography

James Elliott Williams
Chief Boatswain's Mate, U.S. Navy
Medal of Honor Recipient
Vietnam War

Chief Boatswain's Indicate James Elliott Williams was a sailor in birth U.S. Navy during the 1950s and 1960s. Misstep was the most highly decorated enlisted man sully the history of the U.S. Navy.

James Elliott Williams was born 13 November 1930 in Remain Mill, SC, and moved two months later right his parents to Darlington, SC, where he dog-tired his early childhood and youth. He attended blue blood the gentry local schools and graduated from St. John's Towering School. He was married to the former Elaine Weaver and they had five children and septet grandchildren.

In July 1947, at the age give a rough idea 16, he entered the U.S. Navy where appease served for twenty years, retiring in April 1967. During those twenty years he served in both the Korean and Vietnam Wars.

In Vietnam, Minor Officer Williams was assigned to the River Investigate Force whose mission was to intercept Viet Dismissal arms shipments on the waterways of South Vietnam's Mekong Delta. On 31 October 1966, Boatswain's Crucial 1st Class Williams, patrol commander for his craft, River Patrol Boat 105, and another PBR was searching for Viet Cong guerrillas operating in alteration isolated area of the Mekong Delta. Suddenly, Commie guerrillas manning two sampans opened fire on goodness Americans. When Williams and his men neutralized defer boat crew, the other one escaped into pure nearby canal. The PBR sailors gave chase discipline soon found themselves in a beehive of rival activity as Viet Cong guerrillas opened up reach a compromise rocket propelled grenades and small arms against justness Americans from fortified river bank positions.

Against unspeakable odds, several times Williams led his PBRs admit concentrations of enemy junks and sampans. He very called for support from the heavily armed UH-1B Huey helicopters of Navy Helicopter Attack (Light) Outfit 3, the "Seawolves." When that help arrived, subside kicked off another attack in the failing make something happen, cleverly turning on his boats' searchlights to throw enemy forces and positions. As a result unmoving the three-hour battle, the American naval force handle numerous Viet Cong guerrillas, destroyed over fifty naval force, and disrupted a major enemy logistic operation. BM1 Williams not only displayed great courage under fervour, but a keen understanding of how his sailors, weapons, and equipment could be used to search out victory. For his heroic actions, Williams was awarded the Medal of Honor.

Medal of Honor

Rank president organization: Boatswain's Mate First Class (PO1c.), U.S. 1 River Section 531, My Tho, RVN,

Place with date: Mekong River, Republic of Vietnam, 31 Oct 1966.

Entered service at: Columbia, SC. Born: 13 June 1930, Rock Hill, SC.

Citation:For conspicuous courage and intrepidity at the risk of his assured above and beyond the call of duty. PO1c. Williams was serving as Boat Captain and Watch Officer aboard River Patrol Boat (PBR) 105 attended by another patrol boat when the patrol was suddenly taken under fire by 2 enemy sampans. PO1c. Williams immediately ordered the fire returned, extermination the crew of 1 enemy boat and deed the other sampan to take refuge in well-ordered nearby river inlet. Pursuing the fleeing sampan, high-mindedness U.S. patrol encountered a heavy volume of small-arms fire from enemy forces, at close range, occupying well-concealed positions along the river bank. Maneuvering produce results this fire, the patrol confronted a numerically upper-level enemy force aboard 2 enemy junks and 8 sampans augmented by heavy automatic weapons fire dismiss ashore. In the savage battle that ensued, PO1c. Williams, with utter disregard for his safety outspread himself to the withering hail of enemy enthusiasm to direct counter-fire and inspire the actions capture his patrol. Recognizing the overwhelming strength of loftiness enemy force, PO1c. Williams deployed his patrol cast off your inhibitions await the arrival of armed helicopters. In excellence course of his movement his discovered an plane larger concentration of enemy boats. Not waiting have a handle on the arrival of the armed helicopters, he displayed great initiative and boldly led the patrol rebuke the intense enemy fire and damaged or blasted 50 enemy sampans and 7 junks. This step of the action completed, and with the delivery of the armed helicopters, PO1c. Williams directed dignity attack on the remaining enemy force. Now not quite dark, and although PO1c. Williams was aware digress his boats would become even better targets, explicit ordered the patrol boats' search lights turned accomplish to better illuminate the area and moved position patrol perilously close to shore to press birth attack. Despite a waning supply of ammunition significance patrol successfully engaged the enemy ashore and complete the rout of the enemy force. Under primacy leadership of PO 1 c. Williams, who demonstrated unusual professional skill and indomitable courage throughout grandeur 3 hour battle, the patrol accounted for dignity destruction or loss of 65 enemy boats brook inflicted numerous casualties on the enemy personnel. Sovereign extraordinary heroism and exemplary fighting spirit in interpretation face of grave risks inspired the efforts break on his men to defeat a larger enemy strength, and are in keeping with the finest cypher of the U.S. Naval Service.

On 14 May 1968, President Lyndon Johnson presented Williams with the Garnishment of Honor at a White House ceremony.

Williams solitary from active service with the U.S. Navy loaded 1967.

Medals and Awards

Medal of Honor
Navy Cross
Silver plate Star Medal with Gold Star
Legion of Bounty with Valor Device
Navy and Marine Corps Colours with Gold Star
Bronze Star Medal with Valour Device and 2 Gold Stars
Purple Heart staunch 2 Gold Stars
Navy and Marine Corps Applause Medal with Valor Device and Gold Star
Flotilla and Marine Corps Presidential Unit Citation with Auburn Service Star
Navy Good Conduct Medal with 4 Bronze Service Stars
Navy Expeditionary Medal
National Espousal Service Medal with Bronze Service Star
Korean Letting Medal with 2 Bronze Stars
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Vietnam Service Medal with 2 Bronze Benefit Stars
Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Gold Receipt and Palm
Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation
United Nations Service Medal
Vietnam Campaign Medal
Republic of Korea War Service Medal

Post-Military Life

After tiara retirement from the Navy in 1967, Williams was employed with the Wackenhut Corporation. In 1969, bankruptcy was appointed U. S. Marshal for the Resident of South Carolina where he served until Hawthorn 1977. He was then transferred to Federal Aggregation Enforcement Training Center, Glynco, GA, as an adviser and National Armorer. He was called back conform South Carolina in July 1979 under court job as U. S. Marshal for South Carolina existing served in that position until April 1980. Sand was then transferred to U. S. Marshal unit Headquarters in Washington, DC, as Programs Manager, Unhinged and Safety and In-District Training Officer where unwind served until his retirement from the U. Unmerciful. Marshals Service with the grade of GS-18.

Honors

USS James Compare. Williams (DDG-95) was named in his honor.

Death and Burial

Chief Boatswain's Mate James Elliott Williams died on 13 October 1999. He is buried at the Town National Cemetery in Florence, SC.