James E. Williams
| James Elliott Williams | |
|---|---|
 
|
|
| Born |
November 13, 1930 Fort Mill, South Carolina |
| Died | October 13, 1999 (aged 68) |
| Place of burial | Florence National Cemetery |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service/branch |
 United States Navy
|
| Years of service | 1947–1967 |
| Rank | Chief Boatswain’s Mate |
| Battles/wars |
Korean War Vietnam War |
| Awards |
Medal of Honor (1968) Navy Cross Silver Star (2) Legion of Merit Navy and Marine Corps Medal (2) Bronze Star (3) Purple Heart (3) |
| Other work | U. S. Marshal |
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.
Williams married the former Elaine Weaver and they had five children (daughter, Debbie, sons, James E. "Jr.", Stephen Michael, Charles E., and daughter, Gail) and seven grandchildren.
Williams 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, with the enlisted rank of petty officer, first class and the occupational rating of Boatswain's Mate 1st Class (BM1), Williams was assigned to the River Patrol Force. The force's mission was to intercept Viet Cong arms shipments on the waterways of South Vietnam's Mekong Delta. He commanded a Patrol Boat, River (PBR) on this duty.
Williams would receive the Medal of Honor for actions on October 31, 1966. On that date, Williams was commanding PBR 105 alongside another PBR, 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. While Williams and his men neutralized one sampan, the other one escaped into a nearby canal. The PBRs gave chase and soon found themselves in a beehive of enemy activity as Viet Cong guerrillas opened fire on them with rocket propelled grenades and small arms from fortified river bank positions.
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