[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 181 (Thursday, November 15, 2018)]
[House]
[Page H9534]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





 HONORING THE LIFE AND SERVICE OF PETTY OFFICER JAMES ELLIOTT WILLIAMS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
South Carolina (Mr. Norman) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. NORMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today and it is such an honor to 
recognize the official renaming of the United States Post Office 
located at 201 Tom Hall Street in Fort Mill, South Carolina, as the J. 
Elliott Williams Post Office Building.
  James Elliott Williams was born in Fort Mill, South Carolina, and 
lived an extraordinary life. Mr. Williams was in the United States Navy 
for 20 years and served in and during the Cold War, the Korean war, the 
Cuban Missile Crisis, and the Vietnam war.
  One example of his heroic actions occurred during the Vietnam war 
where he and his men fought off enemy combatants behind enemy lines for 
3 hours in south Vietnam. Under Petty Officer Williams' leadership, the 
American Naval force killed roughly 1,000 Vietcong guerillas, destroyed 
over 60 vessels, and disrupted a major enemy logistics operation.
  James E. Williams retired on April 26, 1967, as the most highly 
decorated enlisted sailor in the history of the United States Navy. He 
was the recipient of multiple awards during his service in the Navy; 
including, the Navy Cross, the Silver Star, the Bronze Star Medal, the 
Purple Heart, the Korean Service Medal, and the United Nations Service 
Medal. Additionally, during his last 7 months in the Navy, he received 
every sea service award for heroism.
  On May 14, 1968, President Lyndon B. Johnson, in the name of 
Congress, presented James Elliott Williams the Medal of Honor. In the 
20th century, three sailors of American Indian heritage received the 
medal. Petty Officer Williams was one of the three.
  Mr. Speaker, it was my great privilege to put forward this 
legislation with the entire South Carolina delegation and have it 
signed into law to honor the life, service, and sacrifice of James 
Elliott Williams.

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