[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 157 (Tuesday, November 9, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Pages S14429-S14430]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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        THE LATE JAMES E. WILLIAMS, WINNER OF THE MEDAL OF HONOR

  Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, ``Hero'' is a word that is 
inappropriately used with some frequency in this day and age. This is 
certainly unfortunate, for a true ``hero'' is not the person who caught 
the game winning pass, but is an individual who has distinguished 
themself through courage. No matter how diluted this term have become 
through informal and casual use, it remains simply the best way to 
describe James E. Williams.
  There was a time not long ago when all Americans understood the 
importance of military service and the notion of sacrificing of one's 
self for the better of the nation. James Williams was one such man, an 
individual who was so anxious to render military service, he lied about 
his age in order to join the United States Navy in 1946. Over the 
course of his career, Mr. Williams would repeatedly demonstrate his 
fierce determination and bravery.
  Our involvement in the conflict in Vietnam was still relatively small 
in 1966, but such was not the case for those who were working to topple 
the democratic government of the Republic of Vietnam. Communist forces 
were operating extensively throughout South Vietnam, terrorizing 
peasants, and fighting a low intenstity conflict against our forces and 
our allies. That the infiltration of the enemy into the Republic of 
Vietnam was largescale was proven on that day late in October of 1966 
when Mr. Williams and eight other sailors operating on two different 
plastic river boats engaged in a three-hour firefight with enemy 
personnel. As a result of that action, more than 1,000 communist 
military personnel were killed in action, and almost seventy North 
Vietnamese boats were sunk or destroyed. The courage demonstrated by 
Mr. Williams in the face of overwhelming odds, and the effective attack 
he mounted, led to his being awarded the Medal of Honor for his 
actions. Only the citation from the Medal of Honor awarded Mr. Williams 
adequately describes his heroism, and it reads:

       For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of 
     his life above and beyond the call of duty as a member of 
     River Section 531 during combat operations on the Mekong 
     River in the Republic of Vietnam. On 31 October 1966, Petty 
     Officer 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 two enemy sampans. Petty Officer Williams immediately 
     ordered the fire returned, killing the crew of one 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 
     two enemy junks and eight sampans augmented by heavy 
     automatic weapons fire from ashore. In the savage battle that 
     ensued, Petty Officer Williams, with utter disregard for his 
     own safety, exposed himself to the withering hail of enemy 
     fire to direct counterfire and inspire the actions of his 
     patrol. Recognizing the overwhelming strength of the enemy 
     force, Petty Officer Williams deployed his patrol to await 
     the arrival of armed helicopters. In the course of this 
     movement he 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 fifty 
     enemy sampans and seven junks. This phase of the action 
     completed, and with the arrival of the armed helicopters, 
     Petty Officer Williams directed the attack on the remaining 
     enemy force. Now virtually dark, and although Petty Officer 
     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 Petty Officer Williams, who demonstrated 
     unusual professional skill and indomitable courage throughout 
     the three hour battle, the patrol accounted for the 
     destruction or loss of sixty-five 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 United States Naval Service.

  By the time Mr. Williams retired in 1967, and having fought in two 
wars, he was the most decorated enlisted man in the history of the 
United States Navy. Anyone who looked at the medals adorning his dress 
uniform would immediately recognize James Williams as a hero by noting 
his three Purple Hearts; three Bronze Stars; the Vietnamese Cross of 
Gallantry; the Navy and Marine Corps Medal; two Silver Stars; the Navy 
Cross; and of course, the Medal of Honor.
  Despite having served his nation commendably and heroically, James 
Williams still wanted to contribute to society and hoped to follow in 
the footsteps of his father as a lawman. In 1969, Mr. Williams was 
nominated as the United States Marshal for the District of South 
Carolina by President Richard M. Nixon, and he again distinguished 
himself as a no-nonsense law and order man, vital for a day and age 
when some people reveled in challenging the system and in seeking 
confrontation with authorities. I doubt that too many people were 
foolish to cross swords with James E. Williams, and his work as a law 
enforcement official helped keep South Carolina safe and peaceful.
  In the years following his retirement from Federal service, Mr. 
Williams continued to contribute to the nation, but as a private 
citizen. He was very active in the ``Medal of Honor Society'', a 
private organization dedicated to promoting knowledge and education 
about America's highest award. He was

[[Page S14430]]

also a member of the board of directors of the Patriot's Point 
Development Authority, which has created a military park in the 
Charleston area, and is also home to the above mentioned Medal of Honor 
Society.
  Despite his heroism and his many high recognitions, James Williams 
was a down to earth individual. He refused offers to tell his story in 
print and on film, and he remained a plain talking, straight forward, 
good humored man to the day of his death. While Mr. Williams may no 
longer be among us, he has earned a legendary spot in Navy lore and the 
history of the United States, and he will always be remembered as the 
brave and selfless patriot he was.

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