FReeper Canteen ~ Hall of Heroes: James Elliott Williams ~ 17 June 2024

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[Kathy in Alaska]

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~ Hall of Heroes ~

James Elliott Williams

Info from here.

           

James Elliott Williams (November 13, 1930–October 13, 1999) was a sailor of the United States Navy during the 1950s and 1960s. He was the most highly decorated enlisted man in the history of the United States Navy.

Williams was born in Fort Mill, South Carolina and moved two months later with his parents to Darlington, South Carolina where he spent his early childhood and youth. He attended the local schools and graduated from St. John's high school. He was married to the former Elaine Weaver and they had five children and seven grandchildren. He is buried at the Florence National Cemetery in Florence, South Carolina.

In July 1947, at the age of 16, he entered the United States Navy where he served for twenty years, retiring in April 1967. During those twenty years he served in both the Korean and Vietnam War.

In Vietnam, the petty officer was assigned to the River Patrol Force whose mission was to intercept Viet Cong arms shipments on the waterways of South Vietnam's Mekong Delta. On October 31, 1966, Boatswain's Mate 1st Class Williams, patrol commander for his boat, River Patrol Boat 105, and another PBR was searching for Viet Cong guerrillas operating in an isolated area of the Mekong Delta. Suddenly, Communist guerrillas manning two sampans opened fire on the Americans. When Williams and his men neutralized one boat crew, the other one escaped into a nearby canal. The PBR sailors gave chase and soon found themselves in a beehive of enemy activity as Viet Cong guerrillas opened up with rocket propelled grenades and small arms against the Americans from fortified river bank positions.

Against overwhelming odds, several times Williams led his PBRs against concentrations of enemy junks and sampans. He also called for support from the heavily armed UH-1B Huey helicopters of Navy Helicopter Attack (Light) Squadron 3, the "Seawolves." When that help arrived, he kicked off another attack in the failing light, cleverly turning on his boats' searchlights to illuminate enemy forces and positions. As a result of the three-hour battle, the American naval force killed numerous Viet Cong guerrillas, destroyed over fifty vessels, and disrupted a major enemy logistic operation. BM1 Williams not only displayed great courage under fire, but a keen understanding of how his sailors, weapons, and equipment could be used to achieve victory.

On May 14, 1968, President Lyndon Johnson, in the name of Congress, presented Williams the Medal of Honor. His other awards include the Navy Cross, Silver Star (with one gold award star), the Legion of Merit with Valor Device, the Navy and Marine Corps Medal with gold award star, Bronze Star with Valor device and two gold award stars, Purple Heart with two gold award stars, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with Valor device and gold award star, Navy and Marine Corps Presidential Unit Citation with bronze service star, the Navy Good Conduct Medal with four bronze service stars, the Navy Expeditionary Medal, the National Defense Service Medal with bronze service star, the Korean Service Medal with two bronze stars, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal and the Vietnam Service Medal with two bronze service stars.

His foreign decorations include the Korean Presidential Unit Citation, Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Gold Star and Palm, United Nations Korean Medal, the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, and (not shown) the Korean War Service Medal.

Rank and organization: Boatswain's Mate First Class (PO1c.), United States Navy, River Section 531, My Tho, RVN,
Place and date: Mekong River, Republic of Vietnam, October 31, 1966.
Entered service at: Columbia, S.C.
Born: June 13, 1930, Rock Hill, S.C.

Citation:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. BM1 Williams was serving as Boat Captain and Patrol Officer aboard River Patrol Boat (PBR) 105 accompanied by another patrol boat when the patrol was suddenly taken under fire by 2 enemy sampans. BM1 Williams immediately ordered the fire returned, killing the crew of 1 enemy boat and causing the other sampan to take refuge in a nearby river inlet. Pursuing the fleeing sampan, the 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 through this fire, the patrol confronted a numerically superior enemy force aboard 2 enemy junks and 8 sampans augmented by heavy automatic weapons fire from ashore. In the savage battle that ensued, BM1 Williams, with utter disregard for his safety exposed himself to the withering hail of enemy fire to direct counter-fire and inspire the actions of his patrol. Recognizing the overwhelming strength of the enemy force, BM1 Williams deployed his patrol to await the arrival of armed helicopters. In the course of his movement he discovered an even larger concentration of enemy boats. Not waiting for the arrival of the armed helicopters, he displayed great initiative and boldly led the patrol through the intense enemy fire and damaged or destroyed 50 enemy sampans and 7 junks. This phase of the action completed, and with the arrival of the armed helicopters, BM1 Williams directed the attack on the remaining enemy force. Now virtually dark, and although BM1 Williams was aware that his boats would become even better targets, he ordered the patrol boats' search lights turned on to better illuminate the area and moved the patrol perilously close to shore to press the attack. Despite a waning supply of ammunition the patrol successfully engaged the enemy ashore and completed the rout of the enemy force. Under the leadership of BM1 Williams, who demonstrated unusual professional skill and indomitable courage throughout the 3 hour battle, the patrol accounted for the destruction or loss of 65 enemy boats and inflicted numerous casualties on the enemy personnel. His extraordinary heroism and exemplary fighting spirit in the face of grave risks inspired the efforts of his men to defeat a larger enemy force, and are in keeping with the finest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service.

Williams retired from active service in 1967 and was employed with the Wackenhut Corporation. In 1969, he was appointed U. S. Marshal for the District of South Carolina where he served until May 1977. He was then transferred to Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, Glynco, Georgia as an instructor and National Armorer. He was called back to South Carolina in July 1979 under court appointment as U. S. Marshal for South Carolina and served in that position until April 1980. He was then transferred to U. S. Marshal service Headquarters, Washington, D. C. as Programs Manager, Health and Safety and In-District Training Officer where he served until his retirement from the U. S. Marshals Service with the grade of GS-18.

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

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[Kathy in Alaska]

Mooch!!

3rd!!

[luvie]

Hey there, radu!

Not quite there due to the early-morning wake-up again this morning, but I should be back to almost 100% by tomorrow. It takes me longer to recuperate from long drives any more. LOL! What a shock.

How was your day? BTW, did you get ol’ Betsy sorted?

[radu]

Hey there, Kathy.

Yes, it was another scorcher most of the day. It was 96 and very steamy when I woke up this afternoon but soon afterwards, we had a brief heavy shower. That dropped the temp to 85 for a short time, then the sun came back out. UGH! It’s still a steamy 82 outside now.
And there’s no relief in the 10-day forecast.

Shame on Momma#2 for grabbing that baby! Poor lil duckling. Bet the fight between mommas was a sight.
It’s a safe bet the momma was able to gather her four together and all’s well.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, luvie...hope you got some really good rest after your long day yesterday.

James Elliott Williams was a true hero!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Did your brief heavy shower give the corn a better chance of managing the next 10 days without bad damage?

[radu]

Yeah, that early morning wake-up had to hurt but you get to sleep late tomorrow!

Another toasty day here - - the hottest this week - - so it was another day spent inside. We had a brief rain shower this afternoon that cooled things off but the sun came back out and it was awful outside. The humidity’s not letting it cool off very well.

I haven’t heard anything about ol’ Betsy yet. I drove past the place last evening when I made the store run and didn’t see her in the parking lot, where I left her, so they have her inside to check her out at least. Maybe I’ll hear something tomorrow.

[luvie]

Hi, Kathy! I did get a nice nap, but I figure I’ll feel a whole lot better by tomorrow. Just takes a while to bounce back.

He sure was a true hero! We have so many....and so little time!

[luvie]

I am soooo looking forward to sleeping in tomorrow! If Peaches will let me. LOL! He’s just so scared that when we leave the house, we’re not coming back. And he’s told me all about it. 😻

Man! What a shame that little refreshing shower would turn into humidity from hell. I don’t blame you for staying in. Has it cooled off any yet? Still 87 here and too darn breezy for my taste.

[radu]

There wasn’t quite a tenth of an inch so it wasn’t enough to do much good. There was a big batch of rain coming up from the SE that was aimed right for us but it had to come through the mountains to get here. It’s falling apart now so no more rain.
The corn needs some rain. It’s stressing already. Leaves are standing straight up rather than flopped down. They do that to gather any bit of moisture they can get.

Maybe we’ll get more showers this week since there are slight chances a few days.

[radu]

Poor Peaches. He doesn’t like being “abandoned”. No one to snuggle with at night. LOL Maybe he’ll be calmer tonight and let you sleep better.

Typical summer weather, and it isn’t summer yet. Get a brief shower and the sun comes right back out to turn the area into a sauna. And we still have at least 10 more days of the same. We need some sort of weather system strong enough to move through to shove the high off the coast to give us a break.

It isn’t much cooler here - 82 - and there’s no breeze for relief.

[ExTexasRedhead]

That ONE time a Blue Angel landed on a Carrier

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zH40-l7RmDQ

Check the many interesting comments below the video.

[luvie]

Gad, I think you’re actually having a worse time of it than we are this week. The heat plus the humidy=HELL Week. I feel for you.

We’re supposed to cool down about midweek, so maybe that system will move your way and give you a break.

[radu]

It’s certainly no fun over here. Really bad for the farmers. The fields were looking so beautiful after all the rain we got last month and now the spigot has been turned off along with this heat.
I guess whatever system is going to move in down there to cool you off isn’t strong enough to push over here. There’s no relief in sight for 10 days unless a miracle happens. We have a couple of days of low 90s and the rest are mid to upper 90s.

Enjoy your break when you get it. We have to wait a little longer.

[E.G.C.]

A very pleasant good Monday morning and ((HUGS)) to everyone at the Canteen and to all our military at home and abroad. Thanks for your service to our country.

Yesterday at Comanche Lake:

How's everyone doing this morning?

[luvie]

Anything I can get that’s below 93 is a bonus for me. LOL! But then, I talk to someone who lives in AZ, and their temps are already waaaay over 100. I could NOT live there. No way.

I hope something scoots over your way earlier than 10 days. I had seen the radar forecasts showing that heat dome, but who knew it would be so widespread.

[radu]

Howdy, E.G.C. ((HUGZ))

Did you and Gizmo have to share the lake with a lo of other folks yesterday? Looks like it was perfect for heading out for some picnics, boating, and swimming.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good Monday morning to you, E...((HUGS))...beautiful sky for you and Gizmo yesterday at Comanche Lake. And Gizmo found plenty of fun stuff to do...

You boys have a good Monday adventure.

[radu]

What I find crazy is that while so many of us are roasting, a large chunk of NV and a portion of OR are under a frost or freeze warning.

I’d love for something to shove this high out sooner but I’m not banking on it.

The forecasters knew it would be so widespread. LOL They talked about it for days before it settled in.

Since you pay little attention to FReepmail, you have one. :-)

[E.G.C.]

There was a family hanging out in the shaded area by the gate dock but other than that and some campers in the campground it was just me and Gizmo. :-D

[radu]

Sounds like good luck for you and Gizmo. Makes for a more relaxing outing.