Charles Q. Williams
| Charles Q. Williams | |
|---|---|
Army Medal of Honor
|
|
| Born |
September 17, 1933 Charleston, South Carolina |
| Died | October 15, 1982 (aged 49) |
| Place of burial | Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington County, Virginia |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service/branch | United States Army |
| Rank | Major |
| Unit | Detachment 342, 5th Special Forces Group, 1st Special Forces |
| Battles/wars | -Battle of Dong Xoai |
| Awards |
Medal of Honor Purple Heart (4) |
Charles Quincy Williams (September 17, 1933 – October 15, 1982) was a United States Army major and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration—the Medal of Honor—for heroism above and beyond the call of duty as an Army Special Forces second lieutenant in the Vietnam War.
Williams joined the U.S. Army from Fort Jackson, South Carolina in 1953. After serving as a NCO and paratrooper in a heavy weapons Company, he later attended Officer Candidate School and by June 9, 1965 was serving as a Second Lieutenant with the 5th Special Forces Group.
On that day, in Dong Xoai, Republic of Vietnam, the Special Forces camp where Williams was the executive officer of a Special Forces "A" Team, was attacked by a Vietcong regiment. As the battle raged through the night and into the next day, Williams was in command of the camp which consisted of two compounds after the Special Forces commander was badly wounded. He coordinated the defense and, eventually, the evacuation of the wounded from the camp which included besides the Special Forces compound, the district headquarters compound. He was wounded four separate times during the fourteen-hour siege on the camp. He was subsequently promoted to First Lieutenant and, on July 5, 1966, he was presented the Medal of Honor for his actions during the battle.
Williams reached the rank of major before leaving the Army. He died at age 49 and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington County, Virginia.
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