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Atlantic Ocean - January 2012
SH-60B Seahawk (HSL-42) - Atlantic Ocean -
January 2012
Mk-45 5-inch/62-caliber gun - Atlantic
Ocean - January 2012
Norfolk, Virginia - January 2012
Norfolk, Virginia - January 2012
Norfolk, Virginia - January 2012
Atlantic Ocean - December 2011
Atlantic Ocean - December 2011
Atlantic Ocean - December 2011
Atlantic Ocean - June 2011
Atlantic Ocean - June 2011
Atlantic Ocean - June 2011
Atlantic Ocean - June 2011
Atlantic Ocean - June 2011
Mk-45 Mod.4 5-inch/62-caliber gun fire - Atlantic
Ocean - June 2011
Atlantic Ocean - April 2011
Souda Bay, Crete, Greece - October 2009
Souda Bay, Crete, Greece - October 2009
Red Sea - July 2009
Red Sea - July 2009
Red Sea - June 2009
Red Sea - June 2009
Red Sea - June 2009
Red Sea - June 2009
Atlantic Ocean - September 2008
Red Sea - November 2007
Indian Ocean - September 2007
Norfolk, Virginia - July 2007
Norfolk, Virginia - October 2006
Norfolk, Virginia - October 2006
Norfolk, Virginia - October 2006
Norfolk, Virginia - May 2006
Atlantic Ocean - November 2005
Atlantic Ocean - November 2005
commissioning - Charleston, South
Carolina - December 11, 2004
Charleston, South Carolina - December 2004
Charleston, South Carolina - December 2004
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Boatswain’s Mate First Class James Elliot
Williams (June 13, 1930 - October 13, 1999):
James Elliott 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. 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 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.
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.
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.
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 award star, Bronze Star with Valor device and two gold award stars,
Purple Heart with two gold award stars, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation
Medal with Valor device and gold award star, Navy and Marine Corps
Presidential Unit Citation with bronze service star, the Navy Good Conduct
Medal with four bronze service stars, the Navy Expeditionary Medal, the
National Defense Service Medal with bronze service star, the Korean Service
Medal with two bronze stars, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal and the
Vietnam Service Medal with two bronze service stars.
His foreign decorations include the Korean Presidential Unit Citation,
Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Gold Star and Palm, United Nations Korean
Medal, the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, and (not shown) the Korean War
Service Medal.
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USS
James E. Williams (DDG 95):
USS James E. Williams was laid down on 15
July 2002 by the Northrop Grumman Ship Systems at Ingalls Shipbuilding in
Pascagoula, Mississippi and launched on 25 June 2003. On 11 December 2004,
The USS James E. Williams was commissioned in Charleston, South Carolina,
sponsored by Elaine Weaver Williams, Petty Officer Williams' widow.
Commander Philip Warren Vance, a 1986 graduate of the United States Naval
Academy took command. She joined the Atlantic Fleet, Destroyer Squadron 22
and is homeported in Norfolk, Virginia.
On 17 February 2006, CDR Vance was relieved by CDR Ian Michael Hall as
Commanding Officer of USS James E. Williams. CDR Hall is a graduate of
William & Mary and the former commander of USS Raven (MHC-61).
On 2 May 2006, The USS James E. Williams deployed on its maiden deployment as
part of the Global War on Terrorism Surface Strike Group (GWOT SSG) 06-2. The
USS James E. Williams joined the Naval Station Norfolk, Va.,-based amphibious
transport dock USS Trenton (LPD 14) and the guided-missile cruiser USS Hue
City (CG 66) homeported at Naval Station Mayport, Fla., which surged April 18
as part of the Global War on Terrorism Surface Strike Group (GWOT SSG) 06-2.
On 17 October 2006, The USS James E. Williams completed its first deployment
conducting anti-piracy operations off the coast of Somalia as part of the
maritime security operations.
On 28 June 2007, CDR Hall was relieved by CDR Timothy R. Trampenau.
The USS James E. Williams deployed again on 9 July 2007 as a part of the USS
Enterprise Carrier Strike Group. The strike group consisted of USS Enterprise
(CVN-65), USS Forrest Sherman (DDG 98), USS Arleigh Burke (DDG 51) and USS
Stout (DDG 55); the guided-missile cruiser USS Gettysburg (CG 64); and the
fast-attack submarine USS Philadelphia (SSN 690) all based in Norfolk, and
also the fast combat support ship USNS Supply (T-AOE 6) based out of Earle,
NJ. On the morning of 30 October 2007, Combined Maritime Forces Headquarters,
based in Bahrain, received a call from the International Maritime Bureau,
located in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, providing the status of the North Korean
cargo vessel Dai Hong Dan, which had been taken over Oct. 29 by Somali
pirates. The ship was approximately 60 nautical miles (110 km) northeast of Mogadishu,
Somalia. At that time, The USS James E. Williams was about 50 nautical miles
(93 km) from the vessel and sent a helicopter to investigate the situation.
The USS James E. Williams arrived in the vicinity of the Korean ship midday
local time and contacted the pirates via bridge-to-bridge radio, ordering
them to give up their weapons. At that point, the Korean crew had confronted
the Somali pirates, regained control of the ship and began communicating with
the USS James E. Williams, requesting medical assistance. The crew said the
pirates had been in control of the bridge, but the crew had retained control
of the steering and engineering spaces. The USS James E. Williams crew
provided care and assistance for approximately 12 hours to crew members and Somali
pirates aboard Dai Hong Dan. Six pirates were captured and one was killed.
The pirates remained aboard Dai Hong Dan. In November 2007, The USS James E.
Williams aided the crew of the Taiwanese ship, M/V Ching Fong Hwa 168. After
the Somali pirates returned to shore, the destroyer escorted the Taiwanese
ship out of Somali waters and provided needed supplies and medical
assistance.
On 19 December 2007, she returned from her second deployment to the Fifth
Fleet AOR in support of Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom.
In December 2008, CDR Trampenau was relieved by CDR Paul Marquis. After being
relieved, CDR Trampenau reported to Deputy, Combat Systems Integration and OA
Requirements Officer (N866B).
On 20 April 2009, James E. Williams left on her 3rd deployment in 3 years,
deploying to the sixth and fifth Fleet areas of operations from Naval Station
Norfolk as the lead element of the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group. The James
E. Williams conducted maritime security operations in the Mediterranean Sea
and Persian Gulf regions, and work with international maritime forces to
ensure security and awareness in the maritime domain. She returned to her
homeport at Naval Station Norfolk on 19 October 2009.
In December 2009, 1½ months after the ship returned to Norfolk from a
six-month cruise to the Mediterranean and Arabian seas, nine crewmembers were
given non-judicial punishment for fraternization. Five of the nine were male
chief petty officers while the other four were female junior enlisted
sailors. The chiefs involved are being processed for separation from the
Navy. In addition, the ship's skipper, Commander Paul Marquis, and top
enlisted sailor, Command Master Chief Timothy Youell, were relieved of their
positions and reassigned to shore-based administrative duties. Neither
Marquis nor Youell are implicated in the fraternization cases or alleged
sexual assault. Their failures are ones of leadership. Furthermore, one other
crew member faced criminal charges for sexual assault. Marquis' Executive
Officer Cmdr. Daniel Sunvold, who was serving as executive officer on the
James E. Williams, has been reassigned to the same position on the destroyer
Bainbridge. He has not been implicated in any of the allegations.
source: wikipedia
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