VIETNAM - WILLIAMS, THOMAS HOWARD

Williams, Thomas Howard

VIETNAM - WILLIAMS, THOMAS HOWARD
WILLIAMS, THOMAS HOWARD

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

View this soldier‘s Find a Grave page (opens in a new window)

Vietnam Veterans Memorial panel and row: 54W 034 (view Vietnam Veterans Memorial link in a new window)

 

BRONZE STAR MEDAL

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)