PRIVATE FIRST CLASS
DEWAYNE T. WILLIAMS, USMC (DECEASED) 

 

Medal of Honor Citation

DeWayne T. Williams, who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for heroism in Vietnam in September 1969, was born 18 September 1949, in Brown City, Michigan. He attended Bell Elementary School, St. Clair, Michigan, St. Clair Elementary, Intermediate and High Schools at St. Clair, and Capac High School, in Capac, Michigan.

On 18 December 1967, he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, and was discharged to enlist in the Regular Marine Corps on 2 January 1968.

He completed recruit training with the 3d Recruit Training Battalion, Recruit Training Regiment, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, California, in March 1968; individual combat training with Company Y, 3d Battalion, 2d Infantry Training Regiment, Camp Pendleton, in April; and weapons training, Weapons Company, Basic Infantry Training Battalion, 2d Infantry Training Regiment, at Camp Pendleton, in May 1968.

He was promoted to private first class, 1 June 1968. Upon his arrival in the Republic of Vietnam later that month, he was assigned duty as automatic rifleman with Company I, 3d Battalion, 27th Marines, 1st Marine Division, and served in this capacity until August 1968. He was then assigned duty as anti-tank assault man with Company H, 2d Battalion, 1st Marines, 1st Marine Division. On 18 September 1968, he was killed in action while on patrol in the Quang Nam Province.

A complete list of his medals and decorations include: the Medal of Honor, the Purple Heart, the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal with two bronze stars, and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal.

Vietnam War 1965-1973 Medal of Honor