WILLIAMS, DEWAYNE T.
Rank and organization: Private First Class, U.S. Marine Corps, Company H, 2d Battalion, 1st Marines, 1st Marine Division.
Place: Quang Nam Province, Republic of Vietnam
WILLIAMS, DEWAYNE T.
Rank and organization: Private First Class, U.S. Marine Corps, Company H,
2d Battalion, 1st Marines, 1st Marine Division.
Place: Quang Nam Province, Republic of Vietnam
Date: 18 September 1968.
Entered service at: Saint Clair, Mich.
Born: 18 September 1949, Brown City, Mich.
Citation:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above
and beyond the call of duty while serving as a rifleman with the 1st Platoon,
Company H, in action against communist insurgent forces.
Pfc. Williams was a member of a combat patrol sent out from the platoon with the mission of establishing positions in the company's area of operations, from which it could intercept and destroy enemy sniper teams operating in the area. In the night as the patrol was preparing to move from its daylight position to a preselected night position, it was attacked from ambush by a squad of enemy using small arms and hand grenades. Although severely wounded in the back by the close intense fire, Pfc. Williams, recognizing the danger to the patrol, immediately began to crawl forward toward a good firing position. While he was moving under the continuing intense fire, he heard one of the members of the patrol sound the alert that an enemy grenade had landed in their position. Reacting instantly to the alert, he saw that the grenade had landed close to where he was lying and without hesitation, in a valiant act of heroism, rolled on top of the grenade as it exploded, absorbing the full and tremendous impact of the explosion with his body. Through his extraordinary initiative and inspiring valor in the face of certain death, he saved the other members of his patrol from serious injury and possible loss of life, and enabled them to successfully defeat the attackers and hold their position until assistance arrived. His personal heroism and devotion to duty upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
--- General / Personal ---
Last name: WILLIAMS
First name: DEWAYNE THOMAS
Home of Record (official): ST CLAIR
State (official): MI
Date of Birth: Sunday, September 18, 1949
Sex: Male
Race: Caucasian
Marital Status: Single
--- Military ---
Branch: Marine Corps
Rank: PFC
Serial Number: 2420506
Component: Regular
Pay grade: E2
MOS (Military Occupational Specialty code): 0351
--- Action ---
Start of Tour: Thursday, June 27, 1968
Date of Casualty: Wednesday, September 18, 1968
Age at time of loss: 19
Casualty type: (A1) Hostile, died
Reason: Other explosive device (Ground casualty)
Country: South VietNam
Province: Quang Nam
The Wall: Panel 43W - Row 025
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Back to:Medal Of Honor Recipients