[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 177 (Wednesday, November 6, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Page S6445]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





              TRIBUTE TO MASTER SERGEANT MATTHEW WILLIAMS

  Mr. INHOFE. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize and honor MSG 
Matthew Williams who was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor by 
the President of the United States of America on October 30, 2019.
  Throughout his life, MSG Matthew Williams displayed tremendous 
confidence, competence, and determination. He graduated from Angelo 
State University with a bachelor's degree in criminal justice and 
completed the hardest training the U.S. Army has to offer: Special 
Forces Assessment and Selection, the Special Forces Qualification 
Course, and SERE training.
  Master Sergeant Williams is a master and expert in his chosen 
profession--18 Bravo, U.S. Army Special Forces weapons sergeant--and 
has proven himself to be a consummate professional with service in 
numerous positions: weapons Sergeant operational Detachment Alpha 3336, 
senior weapons sergeant Operational Detachment Alpha 332, senior 
instructor/writer, Delta Company, 2nd Battalion, 1st Special Warfare 
Training Group, and operations sergeant, Alpha Company 2nd Battalion, 
3rd SFG (A).
  Master Sergeant Williams has a proven commitment to service and to 
this Nation by repeatedly answering the call to action with a 
deployment in support of Operation JUNIPER SHIELD and multiple 
deployments in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. He displayed 
conspicuous gallantry on April 6, 2008, as a member of Operational 
Detachment Alpha 3336, during Operation Commando Wrath, a mission to 
capture or kill high-value targets of the Hezeb Islami al Gulbadin in 
the Shok Valley of Afghanistan. With numerous U.S. soldiers and Afghan 
commandos pinned down by intense enemy fire, Master Sergeant Williams 
continuously disregarded his own safety and concern, braved rocket-
propelled-grenade and heavy machinegun fire in order to lead a group of 
Afghan commandos on a counterattack across ice-covered boulders and a 
fast-moving, ice-cold, waist-deep river to help reinforce and evacuate 
four wounded teammates and set-up a critical firing position to allow 
his other teammates and Afghan commandos to escape safety.
  For his actions that day, Master Sergeant Williams was awarded the 
Medal of Honor, the Nation's highest medal, on 30 October 2019, by the 
President of the United States, Donald J. Trump.
  Kevin Stitt, Governor of Oklahoma, proclaimed November 6, as Master 
Sergeant Matthew Williams Day, and I encourage all citizens to 
recognize the achievements and contributions by Master Sergeant 
Williams to the U.S. of America and to the United States Army Special 
Forces.

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