Boatswain's Mate First Class James Elliott Williams

During the Korean War, Petty Officer Williams served aboard USS DOUGLAS H FOX (DD-779) and conducted not only shore bombardment, but also was assigned as a Boat Coxswain to shuttle U.S. and South Korean Raiders from a base off Hungnam, North Korea.  During the Vietnam War, he was Boat Captain of PBR-105 operating from 1966-67 out of My Tho, South Vietnam on the Mekong River.  He was so successful in interdicting the Viet Cong enemy, he was made a Patrol Officer.  He earned the Navy Cross while intercepting an enemy regimental commander's attempt to cross the Mekong River, and, although wounded and under heavy enemy fire from both sides of the river, personally retrieved valuable war plans and documents from the enemy sampan.  On 31 October 1966, his patrol intercepted an enemy battalion's attempt to cross the river.  In subsequent action that lasted nearly two hours, Petty Officer Williams accounted for over thirty enemy boats sunk or captured, earning the Medal of Honor.  Other actions and services resulted in the following additional awards to Petty Officer Williams:  Silver Star Medal; two Navy Marine Corps Medals; Legion of Merit with Combat V; two Bronze Star Medals with Combat V; Navy Commendation Medal with Combat V; two Purple Hearts; Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Palm.