Rank: Private First Class
Unit: B Troop, 1st Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment
MOS: 11D – Armor Reconnaissance Specialist
Awards: Bronze Star Medal with Valor Device, Purple Heart Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
Badges: Combat Infantryman Badge
Unit awards: Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Palm device
Enlisted by: Selected Service
Date of birth: 19-Oct-1947
Hometown: Torrance, California
Marital status: Married to Peggy L. Williams
Campaign: Vietnam Conflict
Start of tour: 6-Jun-1968
Incident date: 1-Jul-1968
Date of casualty: 1-Jul-1968
Age at death: 20
Cause of death: Hostile, died. Explosive Device. Other explosive device.
Thomas Howard Williams died from wounds received while on combat operation when hit by fragments from hostile mine.
Location of fatality: Binh Duong, South Vietnam
Place of interment: Pacific Crest Cemetery, Redondo Beach, California, USA
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BRONZE STAR MEDAL
WITH VALOR DEVICE
POSTHUMOUS
PRIVATE FIRST CLASS THOMAS HOWARD WILLIAMS
1 JULY 1968
B TROOP, 1st SQUADRON
11TH ARMORED CAVALRY REGIMENT
Private First Class Williams distinguished himself by heroism in connection with military operations against a hostile force on 1 July 1968 while serving with Troop B, 1st Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, in the Republic of Vietnam. On this date, Private Williams’ unit was conducting a reconnaissance in force mission southeast of Dau Tieng when it came upon a clearing suspected of being mined by an enemy force. Totally disregarding his own personal safety, Private Williams volunteered to dismount his armored cavalry assault vehicle and assist in the clearing of the area of enemy mines. As he was advancing ahead of the column performing the vital task for which he had volunteered, a command-detonated mine exploded, mortally wounding him. Private First Class Williams’ personal bravery and deep concern for the welfare of his comrades were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit and the United States Army.
Headquarters, II Field Force Vietnam General Orders No. 968 (17 August 1968)