Charles Q. Williams
U.S. Army
Second Lieutenant Charles Q. Williams distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life, above and beyond the call of duty, while defending the Special Forces Camp against a violent attack by hostile forces that lasted for 14 hours. Second Lieutenant Williams was serving as the executive officer of the Special Forces Detachment when an estimated Viet Cong reinforces regiment struck the camp and threatened to overrun it and the adjacent District Headquarters. He awoke personnel, organized them, determined the source of the insurgents' main effort and led the troops to their defensive positions on the south and west walls. Then, after running to the District Headquarters to establish communications, he found there was no radio operational with which to communicate with his commanding officer in another compound. To reach the other compound, he traveled through darkness but was halted in this effort by a combination of shrapnel in his right leg and the increase in Viet Cong gunfire. Ignoring his wound, he returned to the District Headquarters and directed the defense against the first assault. As the insurgents attempted to scale the walls, and as some of the Vietnamese defenders began to retreat, he dashed through a barrage of gunfire, succeeding in rallying these defenders, and led them back to their positions. Although wounded in the thigh and left leg during this gallant action, he returned to his position and, upon being told that communications were reestablished and that his commanding officer was seriously wounded, Second Lieutenant Williams took charge of actions in both compounds. Then, in an attempt to reach the communications bunker, he sustained wounds in the stomach and right arm from grenade fragments. As the defensive positions on the walls had been held for hours and casualties were mounting, he ordered the consolidation of the American personnel from both compounds to establish a defense in the district building. After radio contact was made with a friendly air controller, he disregarded his wounds and directed the defense from the District building, using descending flares as reference points to adjust air strikes. By his courage, he inspired his team to hold out against the insurgent force that was closing in on them and throwing grenades into the windows of the building. As daylight arrived and the Viet Cong continued to besiege the stronghold, firing a machinegun directly south of the District building, he was determined to eliminate this menace that threatened the lives of his men. Taking a 3.5 rocket launcher and a volunteer to load it, he worked his way across open terrain, reached the berm south of the District Headquarters, and took aim at the Viet Cong machinegun 150 meters away. Although the sight was faulty, he succeeded in hitting the machinegun. While he and the loader were trying to return to the District Headquarters, they were both wounded. With a fourth wound, this time in the right arm and leg, a realizing he was unable to carry his wounded comrade back to the District building, Second Lieutenant Williams pulled him to a covered position and then made his way back to the District building where sought help of others who went out and evacuated the injured soldier. Although seriously wounded and tired, he continued to direct the air strikes closer to the defensive position. As morning turned to afternoon and the Viet Cong pressed their effort with direct recoilless rifle fire into the building, he ordered the evacuation of the seriously wounded to the safety of the communications bunker. When informed that helicopters would attempt to land as the hostile gunfire had abated, he led his team from the building to the artillery position, making certain of the timely evacuation of the wounded from the communications area, and then on to the pick-up point. Despite resurgent Viet Cong gunfire, he directed the rapid evacuation of all personnel. Throughout the long battle, he was undaunted by the vicious Viet Cong assault and inspired the defenders in decimating the determined insurgents. Second Lieutenant Williams's extraordinary heroism was in keeping with the highest traditions of the U.S. Army and reflects great credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of his country.
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