Medal of Honor: Dewayne T. Williams , Vietnam War, September 18, 1968

Name: Dewayne T. Williams
Rank: Private First Class, U.S. Marine Corps
War: Vietnam War
Date of Action: September 18, 1968
Unit: Company H, 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines, 1st Marine Division
Place: Quang Nam Province, Republic of Vietnam
Born: September 18, 1949, Brown City, Michigan

Summary of Action

On the night of September 18, 1968—his nineteenth birthday—PFC Dewayne T. Williams was on patrol with his platoon in Quang Nam Province, tasked with establishing ambush positions to counter enemy sniper teams. As darkness fell, a concealed enemy squad struck from ambush, unleashing a torrent of small arms and grenades.

Severely wounded in the back during the opening moments, Williams refused to give in to his injuries. Crawling forward under heavy fire, he sought a position from which he could return fire and protect his patrol. At that moment, an enemy grenade landed among the Marines. With no time to think and only one choice to make, Williams shouted a warning, rolled onto the grenade, and absorbed the full explosion with his body.

His sacrifice shielded his comrades from certain death or grievous wounds. Inspired by his courage, his patrol held their ground, fought off the ambush, and maintained their position until reinforcements arrived.

Official Medal of Honor 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.