USS James E. Williams DDG 95 / Boatswains Mate 1st Class James Elliot Williams / Arleigh Burke class Guided Missile Destroyer – US Navy
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Naval Forces Technology, History & Information

 

Guided Missile Destroyer

DDG 95   -   USS James E. Williams

USS James E. Williams (DDG 95)

US Navy photo

Type, Class:

 

Guided Missile Destroyer; Arleigh Burke – class / Flight IIA;

planned and built as DDG 95;

Builder:

 

Ingalls Shipbuilding, Pascagoula, Mississippi, USA

STATUS:

 

Awarded: March 6, 1998;

Laid down: July 15, 2002;

Launched: June 25, 2003;

Commissioned: December 11, 2004;

ACTIVE UNIT/ in commission (Atlantic Fleet)

Homeport:

 

Norfolk, Virginia, USA

Namesake:

 

Named after and in honor of Boatswain’s Mate 1st Class James Elliot Williams (1930 – 1999);

> see history, below;

Ship's Motto:

 

> LEAD FROM THE FRONT <

Technical Data:

(Measures, Propulsion,

Armament, Aviation, etc.)

 

see: INFO > Guided Missile Destroyer / Arleigh Burke - class.

 

Pictures, photos & more ...

 

James Elliot Williams

Photo credits: US Navy, US Naval Historical Center

 

Namesake & History:

Boatswain’s Mate First Class James Elliot Williams (June 13, 1930 – October 13, 1999);

 

Skillful battle direction is one of the most important requirements for a leader in the U.S. Navy.  Boatswain's Mate 1st Class James E. Williams, who received the Medal of Honor for his achievements, demonstrated extraordinary bravery and leadership during the Vietnam War.  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, 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 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.

 

 

Congressional Medal of Honor Citation:

Rank and organization: Boatswain's Mate First Class (PO1c.), U.S. Navy, River Section 531, My Tho, RVN, Place and date: Mekong River, Republic of Vietnam, 31 October 1966. Entered service at: Columbia, S.C. Born: 13 June 1930, Rock Hill, S.C. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. PO1c. Williams was serving as Boat Captain and Patrol Officer aboard River Patrol Boat (PBR) 105 accompanied by another patrol boat when the patrol was suddenly taken under fire by 2 enemy sampans. PO1c. Williams immediately ordered the fire returned, killing the crew of 1 enemy boat and causing the other sampan to take refuge in a nearby river inlet. Pursuing the fleeing sampan, the U.S. patrol encountered a heavy volume of small-arms fire from enemy forces, at close range, occupying well-concealed positions along the river bank. Maneuvering through this fire, the patrol confronted a numerically superior enemy force aboard 2 enemy junks and 8 sampans augmented by heavy automatic weapons fire from ashore. In the savage battle that ensued, PO1c. Williams, with utter disregard for his safety exposed himself to the withering hail of enemy fire to direct counter-fire and inspire the actions of his patrol. Recognizing the overwhelming strength of the enemy force, PO1c. Williams deployed his patrol to await the arrival of armed helicopters. In the course of his movement his discovered an even larger concentration of enemy boats. Not waiting for the arrival of the armed helicopters, he displayed great initiative and boldly led the patrol through the intense enemy fire and damaged or destroyed 50 enemy sampans and 7 junks. This phase of the action completed, and with the arrival of the armed helicopters, PO1c. Williams directed the attack on the remaining enemy force. Now virtually dark, and although PO1c. Williams was aware that his boats would become even better targets, he ordered the patrol boats' search lights turned on to better illuminate the area and moved the patrol perilously close to shore to press the attack. Despite a waning supply of ammunition the patrol successfully engaged the enemy ashore and completed the rout of the enemy force. Under the leadership of PO 1 c. Williams, who demonstrated unusual professional skill and indomitable courage throughout the 3 hour battle, the patrol accounted for the destruction or loss of 65 enemy boats and inflicted numerous casualties on the enemy personnel. His extraordinary heroism and exemplary fighting spirit in the face of grave risks inspired the efforts of his men to defeat a larger enemy force, and are in keeping with the finest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service.

 

USS James E. Williams (DDG 95):

 

… DDG 95 history wanted …

 

… and patches …

 

 

 

 

 

 

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