1st Lt.( Then 2LT) Williams distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity
at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while defending the Special Forces
camp against a violent attack by hostile forces that lasted for 14 hours. 1st Lt. Williams
was serving as executive officer of a Special Forces Detachment when an estimated Vietcong
reinforced regiment struck the camp and threatened to overrun it and the adjacent district
headquarters. He awoke personnel, organized them, determined the source of the insurgents'
main effort and led the troops to their defensive positions on the south and west walls.
Then, after running to the District Headquarters to establish communications, he found that
there was no radio operational with which to communicate with his commanding officer in
another compound. To reach the other compound, he traveled through darkness but was halted
in this effort by a combination of shrapnel in his right leg and the increase of the
Vietcong gunfire. Ignoring his wound, he returned to the district headquarters and directed
the defense against the first assault. As the insurgents attempted to scale the walls and as
some of the Vietnamese defenders began to retreat, he dashed through a barrage of gunfire,
succeeded in rallying these defenders, and led them back to their positions. Although wounded
in the thigh and left leg during this gallant action, he returned to his position and, upon
being told that communications were reestablished and that his commanding officer was
seriously wounded, 1st Lt. Williams took charge of actions in both compounds. Then, in an
attempt to reach the communications bunker, he sustained wounds in the stomach and ??right arm
from grenade fragments. As the defensive positions on the walls had been held for hours and
casualties were mounting, he ordered the consolidation of the American personnel from both
compounds to establish a defense in the district building. After radio contact was made with a
friendly air controller, he disregarded his wounds and directed the defense from the District
building, using descending flares as reference points to adjust air strikes. By his courage, he
inspired his team to hold out against the insurgent force that was closing in on them and
throwing grenades into the windows of the building. As daylight arrived and the Vietcong
continued to besiege the stronghold, firing a machinegun directly south of the district building,
he was determined to eliminate this menace that threatened the lives of his men. Taking a 3.5
rocket launcher and a volunteer to load it, he worked his way across open terrain, reached the
berm south of the district headquarters, and took aim at the Vietcong machinegun 150 meters away.
Although the sight was faulty, he succeeded in hitting the machinegun. While he and the loader
were trying to return to the district headquarters, they were both wounded. With a fourth wound,
this time in the right arm and leg, and realizing he was unable to carry his wounded comrade back
to the district building, 1st Lt. Williams pulled him to a covered position and then made his way
back to the district building where he sought the help of others who went out and evacuated the
injured soldier. Although seriously wounded and tired, he continued to direct the air strikes
closer to the defensive position. As morning turned to afternoon and the Vietcong pressed their
effort with direct recoilless rifle fire into the building, he ordered the evacuation of the
seriously wounded to the safety of the communications bunker. When informed that helicopters
would attempt to land as the hostile gunfire had abated, he led his team from the building to the
artillery position, making certain of the timely evacuation of the wounded from the communications
area, and then on to the pickup point. Despite resurgent Vietcong gunfire, he directed the rapid
evacuation of all personnel. Throughout the long battle, he was undaunted by the vicious Vietcong
assault and inspired the defenders in decimating the determined insurgents. 1st Lt. Williams'
extraordinary heroism, are in the highest traditions of the US Army and reflect great credit upon
himself and the Armed Forces of his country.
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