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Pictures courtesy of Jeff Williams (son) 

1LT - O2 - Army - Reserve 
27 year old Married, Caucasian, Male 
Born on Jun 15, 1940 
From BILLINGS, MONTANA 
Length of service 2 years. 
His tour of duty began on Oct 06, 1967 
Casualty was on Feb 15, 1968 
in GIA DINH, SOUTH VIETNAM 
HOSTILE, GROUND CASUALTY 
MULTIPLE FRAGMENTATION WOUNDS 
Body was recovered 
Religion 
BAPTIST
Panel 39E - - Line 56

More information on February 15th, 1968

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DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY Headquarters, United States Army Vietnam APO San Francisco  96375 GENERAL ORDERS NUMBER          1800           18 April 1968  AWARD OF THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS 1.   TC    320.  The following AWARD is announced posthumously. WILLIAMS, RALPH L 05334184 FIRST LIEUTENANT INFANTRY United States Army, Company C, 1st Battalion (Mechanized), 5th Infantry,  2nd Brigade, 25th Infantry Division, APO 96225   Awarded: Distinguished Service Cross Date of Action:  14 February 1968 Theater: Republic of Viet Nam Reason:      For extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam:  First Lieutenant Williams distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous action on 14 February 1968 as an infantry platoon leader while conducting a reconnaissance-in-force mission in enemy territory.  The lead elements of his platoon were suddenly subjected to intense automatic weapons, small arms and recoilless rifle fire from heavily fortified North Vietnamese Army positions.  Fearlessly exposing himself to the savage barrage, Lieutenant Williams rushed forward to reorganize his troops and evacuate casualties.  While running to a farmhouse to assist a wounded platoon member, he was struck in the knee by enemy fire.  He quickly treated his wound and began moving toward cover when he noticed that one of his machine gunners had been hit by tracer bullets, causing the soldier’s clothing to burst into flames.  Heedless of a raking curtain of hostile fire, Lieutenant Williams crawled across the bullet-swept terrain and removed the man’s burning garments.  Then, as he raised up to throw a smoke grenade at the North Vietnamese to screen the withdrawal of his troops, he was mortally wounded.  First Lieutenant Williams’ extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty, at the cost of his life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army. Authority: By direction of the President, under the provisions of the Act of  Congress, approved 25 July 1963.

 

Document privided by Bruce Swander

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