BM1 James E. “Elliott” Williams
Upon presenting to BM1 James E. “Elliott” Williams for service as a patrol officer in PBR-105 during an action on 31 October 1966 the medal of honor, The president Lyndon Johnson allegedly commented, “Damn, Williams, you've got a big neck,” as he attempted to place the medal there. Williams also had a Navy Cross, two Silver Stars, a Navy and Marine Corps Medal, three Bronze Star Medals,
three Purple Hearts, a Navy Commendation Medal and two Vietnamese Gallantry Crosses.
On October 31, 1966, Williams was commanding PBR 105 alongside another PBR searching for Viet Cong guerrillas operating in an isolated area of the Mekong Delta. Suddenly, Viet Cong manning two sampans opened fire on the Americans. While Williams and his men neutralized one sampan, the other one escaped into a nearby canal. The PBRs gave chase and soon found themselves in a beehive of enemy activity as the VC opened fire on them with rocket propelled grenades and small arms from fortified river bank positions.
Williams repeatedly led the PBRs against concentrations of enemy junks and sampans. He also called for support from the heavily armed UH-1B Huey helicopters of Navy Helicopter Attack (Light) Squadron 3, the "Seawolves." When that help arrived, he kicked off another attack in the failing light. As a result of the three-hour battle, the U.S. naval force killed 1,000 Viet Cong guerrillas, destroyed over fifty vessels, and disrupted a major enemy logistic operation. For his heroic actions on that date he was awarded the Medal of Honor.
USS James E. Williams DDG-95 bears his name.
Elliott Williams passed away in 1999.