Dewayne T. Williams

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Dewayne T. Williams
September 8, 1949(1949-09-08) – September 18, 1968 (aged 19)
  
Dewayne Thomas Williams, Medal of Honor recipient
Place of birth Brown City, Michigan
Place of death KIA in Quang Nam Province, Republic of Vietnam
Allegiance United States of America
Service/branch United States Marine Corps
Years of service 1967-1968
Rank Private First Class
Unit 2nd Battalion 1st Marines
Battles/wars Vietnam War
Awards Medal of Honor
Purple Heart

Private First Class Dewayne Thomas Williams (September 8, 1949-September 18, 1968) was a United States Marine who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for heroism in Vietnam in September 1968.

Contents

[edit] Biography

Dewayne Williams was born on 18 September 1949, in Brown City, Michigan. He attended Bell Elementary School, St. Clair, Michigan, St. Clair Elementary, Intermediate and High Schools at St. Clair, and Capac High School, in Capac, Michigan.

On 18 December 1967, he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, and was discharged to enlist in the Regular Marine Corps on 2 January 1968.

He completed recruit training with the 3rd Recruit Training Battalion, Recruit Training Regiment, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, California in March 1968; individual combat training with Company Y, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Infantry Training Regiment, Camp Pendleton, in April; and weapons training, Weapons Company, Basic Infantry Training Battalion, 2nd Infantry Training Regiment, at Camp Pendleton, in May 1968.

He was promoted to private first class on 1 June 1968. Upon his arrival in the Republic of Vietnam later that month, he was assigned duty as automatic rifleman with Company I, 3rd Battalion, 27th Marines, 1st Marine Division, and served in this capacity until August 1968. He was then assigned duty as anti-tank assault man with Company H, 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines, 1st Marine Division. On 18 September 1968, he was killed in action while on patrol in the Quang Nam Province.

[edit] Medal of Honor citation

The President of the United States in the name of the Congress takes pride in presenting the MEDAL OF HONOR posthumously to

PRIVATE FIRST CLASS DEWAYNE T. WILLIAMS
UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS

for service as set forth in the following CITATION:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a Rifleman with the First Platoon, Company H, Second Battalion, First Marines, First Marine Division in action against communist insurgent forces in the Quang Nam Province, Republic of Vietnam. Private First Class Williams was a member of a combat patrol sent out from the platoon with the mission of establishing positions in the company's are of operations, from which it could intercept and destroy enemy sniper teams operating in the area. On the night of 18 September 1968, as the patrol was preparing to move from its daylight position to a preselected night position, it was attacked from ambush by a squad of enemy using small arms and hand grenades. Although severely wounded in the back by the close intense fire, Private First Class Williams, recognizing the danger to the patrol, immediately began to crawl forward toward a good firing position. While he was moving under the continuing intense fire, he heard one of the members of the patrol sound the alert that an enemy grenade had landed in their position. Reacting instantly to the alert, he saw that the grenade had landed close to where he was lying and without hesitation, in a valiant act of heroism, he rolled on top of the grenade as it exploded, absorbing the full and tremendous impact of the explosion with his own body. Through his extraordinary initiative and inspiring valor in the face of certain death, he saved the other members of his patrol from serious injury and possible loss of life, and enabled them to successfully defeat the attackers and hold their position until assistance arrived. His personal heroism and devotion to duty upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.[1]

/S/ RICHARD M. NIXON

[edit] Awards and decorations

Williams awards include:

[edit] Honors

The U.S. Navy prepositioning ship, MV PFC Dewayne T. Williams (T-AK 3009), is named in his honor.[1]

Dwayne T. Williams' name can be found inscribed on Vietnam Veterans Memorial on Panel 43W, Row 025.

[edit] See also

United States Marine Corps Portal

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ "PFC Dewayne T. Williams", Marines Awarded the Medal of Honor.

[edit] References

This article incorporates text in the public domain from the United States Marine Corps.

[edit] External links