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James Elliot “Willie” Williams

by Jonn Lilyea••53

Our buddy, Doug Sterner wrote an article about James Elliot “Willie” Williams in Vietnam Magazine, republished in History Net. Doug says that Williams was the most decorated enlisted sailor in the history of the US Navy. According to Military Times’ Hall of Valor, Williams earned three Purple Hearts, two Bronze Stars for Valor, a Silver Star, the Navy and Marine Corps Medal, a Navy Cross and the Medal of Honor – all while assigned to River Patrol Boat 105, River Section 531, My Tho Detachment from July, 1966 – January, 1967. You should read the citations at the Hall of Valor.

Doug writes;

When Williams returned home in spring 1967, he had a list of awards unmatched by any enlisted man in Navy history. He retired after 20 years of service and began a career in the U.S. Marshals Service.

On May 14, 1968, President Lyndon B. Johnson presented Williams with the Medal of Honor. For his lifesaving actions at the sinking Jamaica Bay, he was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Medal, often called “the noncombat medal of honor.”

During his last seven months in the Navy, Williams received every sea-service award for heroism including the Legion of Merit with “V,” two Navy Commendation Medals for valor and three Purple Hearts.

Williams died on Oct. 13, 1999, and in 2003 his widow, Elaine, watched the launching of the Arleigh Burke class destroyer, USS James E. Williams.

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53 thoughts on “James Elliot “Willie” Williams”

  1. The Navy and Marine Corps Medal is very difficult to earn. My memory changes over time, but I believe I have known fewer than six Sailors and Marines who earned it.

    1. I served with a guy that had 2. One for a helicopter crash (he was the Rescue Swimmer) where he freed the pilot and tried to (unsuccessfully) free the copilot from an upside down sinking helicopter. The second one was for saving a woman and her 2 children from a burning car after a crash in San Diego, CA.

    2. Decorated beyond belief. Not a badass though, gotta make senior chief to be a badass from what I hear, all senior chiefs are badasses.

      1. Now now now, SARC. I know it is part of your ID and personality but I have never attacked you and have always been cordial.
        You know what they say about us Even Numbered Chiefs?

        We are a sensitive type.

            1. LOL Sarcasm….not exactly.Though I can be.

              just a lowly, humble, Independent Duty Special Amphibious Reconnaissance Corpsman = IDC SARC

              you can type SARC into a youtube search, if you’re interested…it’s not all drippy dicks and bandaids

              1. No need.
                I know what you went through for that NEC.
                Very, Very Few hold or have ever held.
                Tip O’ Cap

              2. Thanks for clearing that up. I always thought it stood for “I Don’t Care – Sexual Assault Response Coordinator”.
                Hey, it made sense to me, with all that talk of “hitting” the female valor thieves who pop up here! 😀

                1. well…we went from SOTs to SARCs in 93/94….dunno why, I wasn’t part of either decision. 🙂

    1. Waiting now for Yef to arrive and explain to all of us that Chief Williams was only a boat driving Navy POG who doesn’t deserve any of those combat awards because he wasn’t in the “infantry”.

    2. The dude was so badass I bet when he sat on the toilet his dick touched the water!

  4. The first few lines made me think “vet ‘exaggerates’ career to some reporter.” And then it didn’t turn out that way at all.

  5. Isn’t it refreshing to see the real deal for a change. Then you get sonofabitches like John Kerry attempting to piggyback on the accomplishments of men like this.

    1. Exactly what I thought after reading. John Fn Kerry is the epitome of a buddy fucker.

    1. He is for sure no paint chipping SOB.
      Pretty sure too, if he was assigned to it. The paint would see him and fall off the Bulkhead.

    1. Toasty, I don’t want to speak for David, but i believe the weight he was talking about was from all the medals on the port side of his chest…

      1. Fyrfighter~
        Thank you for squaring me up.

        David,myapologiesformisunerstanding your quote.

        Admins~Please delete my comment above.

  8. USS JAMES E. WILLIAMS (DDG 95)

    “Lead from the Front”

    http://www.public.navy.mil/surflant/ddg95/Pages/default.aspx

    ‘Our Namesake

    Early Life

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

    In the Navy

    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 31 October 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 14 May 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 star, Bronze Star Medal with two gold stars, Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Gold Star and Palm, Navy Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Presidential Unit Citation with one service star, Purple Heart with two gold stars, Vietnam Service Medal with bronze service star, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, National Defense Service Medal with bronze service star, United Nations Service Medal, Korean Service Medal with two bronze service stars, Korean Presidential Unit Citation, Korean War Service Medal, and the Navy Good Conduct Medal with four bronze service stars.

    Post Navy

    Chief Petty Officer 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.

    He was married to the former Elaine Weaver. They had five children and seven grandchildren. He is now buried at the Florence National Cemetery in Florence, South Carolina.’

    1. GS-18? He excelled at every level. GS-18’s were the precursors to SES ranks and would have been considered flag equivalent back in the day.

      Navy Proud.

  13. Holy SHIT! All those medals in SIX MONTHS?!When did he have time to sleep?!

    Good on ya, shipmate!

  15. What a man. I read his story in Doug Sterner’s book he made available through Amazon. By the way, thank you Mr. Sterner for making those available and for all you have done to preserve our nation’s legacy of valor.

    I am surprised though that he did not make E-9. I mean there are a lot of points in his decorations. But I am not a Navy guy so I don’t know how their system of promotion works.

    1. Looks mainly due to him retiring at 20.
      Bulk of his career was Fleet side in a Rate that is usually over manned and tough advancement. All those Awards and Decorations were earned in pretty much the end of his career. Has he wanted to stay in longer he would have been a lock for Master Chief.

      1. Thank you CB Senior. Like other branches, you can land in an MOS that is so top heavy, it takes The Nod From God to get past E-7 or E-8.

    2. I would bet dollars against donuts that he was a “no shit, take no prisoners” type of NCO. An Officer wanting to “make his bones” on this guy’s efforts were probably soundly shot down with a “are you fuckin’ stupid, stupid? Or is your head still up your ass?!!

      It was my experience that a lot of butter bars to maybe even silver oak leaves couldn’t see through their “fog of disbelief” that a lowly enlisted swine would talk to them in such a manner.

      The manner aside, it was the intent of said gruff, salty Chief to try to direct said Officer to keep his dick out of the fan.

      Been there, done that.

  16. I am so proud we have a new destroyer named after a true hero instead of some politically correct ass wipe who never served. The adults are calling the shots now.

  18. Now there’s a MAN!

    Remember when warships were named for warriors instead of politicians? Carl Levin isn’t worthy to scrub a urinal that James E. Williams might have pissed in.

  20. Hey, Claw…are you out there?

    Guess who this guy is related to (First Cousin).

    http://archive.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=15899

    This hero is related to Joe Gainey…you know, Joe Gainey of the Vietnam of the Nam…THE Joe Gainey of the Gainey Cup and the 1st SEAC who wears 2 stars on the NDSM because he claims to have come into the Army during the Vietnam Era…the Joe Gainey that carries a steel ball bearing from an Abrams tank in his pocket which he called his “Military Bearing”…

    The one and only Joe Gainey who supported Michael Killam, Phony POW, which to this day, we have yet to hear a peep from Gainey about proving Killiam was a Vietnam POW.

    The Joe Gainey who wrote: “Oh,by the way, since you do not personally know me, NEVER QUESTION MY DEDICATION TO MY VETERANS AGAIN. Are we clear?”

    https://www.azuse.cloud/?p=63422&cpage=1#comments

    Thought you might need a good laugh, Claw…

    Other than that, James E. Williams, SALUTE.

    1. Yeah, I’m here and thanks for the guffaws.

      Don’t forget to add to the list of stuff about “Fighting” Joe that he has been pictured wearing 11 Service Stripes (33 years) on his uniform a full TWO years BEFORE he reached his 33rd and final year of service. (The picture is attached to his Wiki page)

      And Yes, a Hand Salute to James E. Williams.

  21. My impression of Chief Williams is that he’d say he was just doing his job and let it go at that. Seems like a down-to-earth sort to me.

  23. People Sleep Peacefully in Their Beds at Night Only Because Rough Men Stand Ready to Do Violence on Their Behalf

    Well done Boats.

  24. The Greatest BOAT GUY of all time … Boats Williams!

    Great guy, had the pleasure of meeting him on occasion.

    He is what is good in all NSW SWCC!

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