Valor Friday
Highlighting MAJ Charles Q. Williams at the request of rgr769.
In a battle for the district capital of Phuc Long Province in the III Corps area about 60 miles northeast of Saigon in the country of Viet Nam, Special Forces 2LT Charles Q. Williams would distinguish himself in the battle of the Dong Xoai CIDG camp and later be awarded the Medal of Honor.
In the same action, CM3 Marvin Shields, Navy Seabee would posthumously be awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions.
Dong Xoai was home to 400 Montagnard CIDG strikers and 24 US troops including Special Forces and Navy Seabees. On the dates of 9-10 June, the Viet Cong, with North Vietnamese Support attacked the base with 1500 guerrillas armed with AK-47s, grenades, rocket-propelled grenades, rocket launchers and flamethrowers.
The 14-hour battle would leave 20 of the Americans either killed or wounded along with 200 Vietnamese strikers and civilians. Vietcong dead numbered between 500-700.
Williams was the XO (Executive Officer) of the Special Forces A-Camp when the Vietcong began massing for an attack on the camp late on June 9. The Americans were aware of the buildup outside the camp and placed their troops on full alert.
This caused the Vietcong to begin their attack over an hour early, and at 2330 they began to mortar the camp, hitting both Vietnamese and US positions before an infantry assault by the 272nd Regiment
Many thanks to Special Operations.com and Steve Balestrieri for the background.
First Lieutenant Williams’ official Medal of Honor citation reads:
1st Lt. Williams distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while defending the Special Forces Camp against a violent attack by hostile forces that lasted for 14 hours. 1st Lt. Williams was serving as executive officer of a Special Forces Detachment when an estimated Vietcong reinforced regiment struck the camp and threatened to overrun it and the adjacent district headquarters. He awoke personnel, organized them, determined the source of the insurgents’ main effort and led the troops to their defensive positions on the south and west walls. Then, after running to the District Headquarters to establish communications, he found that there was no radio operational with which to communicate with his commanding officer in another compound. To reach the other compound, he traveled through darkness but was halted in this effort by a combination of shrapnel in his right leg and the increase of the Vietcong gunfire. Ignoring his wound, he returned to the district headquarters and directed the defense against the first assault. As the insurgents attempted to scale the walls and as some of the Vietnamese defenders began to retreat, he dashed through a barrage of gunfire, succeeded in rallying these defenders, and led them back to their positions. Although wounded in the thigh and left leg during this gallant action, he returned to his position and, upon being told that communications were reestablished and that his commanding officer was seriously wounded, 1st Lt. Williams took charge of actions in both compounds. Then, in an attempt to reach the communications bunker, he sustained wounds in the stomach and right arm from grenade fragments. As the defensive positions on the walls had been held for hours and casualties were mounting, he ordered the consolidation of the American personnel from both compounds to establish a defense in the district building. After radio contact was made with a friendly air controller, he disregarded his wounds and directed the defense from the District building, using descending flares as reference points to adjust air strikes. By his courage, he inspired his team to hold out against the insurgent force that was closing in on them and throwing grenades into the windows of the building. As daylight arrived and the Vietcong continued to besiege the stronghold, firing a machinegun directly south of the district building, he was determined to eliminate this menace that threatened the lives of his men. Taking a 3.5 rocket launcher and a volunteer to load it, he worked his way across open terrain, reached the berm south of the district headquarters, and took aim at the Vietcong machinegun 150 meters away. Although the sight was faulty, he succeeded in hitting the machinegun. While he and the loader were trying to return to the district headquarters, they were both wounded. With a fourth wound, this time in the right arm and leg, and realizing he was unable to carry his wounded comrade back to the district building, 1st Lt. Williams pulled him to a covered position and then made his way back to the district building where he sought the help of others who went out and evacuated the injured soldier. Although seriously wounded and tired, he continued to direct the air strikes closer to the defensive position. As morning turned to afternoon and the Vietcong pressed their effort with direct recoilless rifle fire into the building, he ordered the evacuation of the seriously wounded to the safety of the communications bunker. When informed that helicopters would attempt to land as the hostile gunfire had abated, he led his team from the building to the artillery position, making certain of the timely evacuation of the wounded from the communications area, and then on to the pickup point. Despite resurgent Vietcong gunfire, he directed the rapid evacuation of all personnel. Throughout the long battle, he was undaunted by the vicious Vietcong assault and inspired the defenders in decimating the determined insurgents. 1st Lt. Williams’ extraordinary heroism, are in the highest traditions of the U.S. Army and reflect great credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of his country.
Category: Army, The Warrior Code
Its a shame he passed away so soon after leaving the Army.
One of my favorite stories about him is that he went all hippie looking after he left the Army. He grew a beard and let his hair grow long and attended UNC for a while. I would have loved to have told some of his classmates the true story of this soldier’s soldier. They would not have believed me. I was shocked to hear his age back in 1970, I thought he was about 50. He had not aged well, which I can now understand, given what he went through. The man was the most professional officer I ever served with. He carried a military bearing 24/7.
BZ Lt. you are a true hero!
May God bless you and your family!!
A man well worth remembering. He deserved two or three MoH for all that!
His citation is the most extraordinary one I have ever read for the war in the RVN. I am proud to have known and served with him. When I joined 2nd Bn/509th PIR with the 8th ID in Germany he was a CPT and C.O. of C Co. His troops had great respect for him; they referred to him as “Captain Smoke.” When I asked why, one of his paratroopers said: “Because he can definitely bring the smoke down on your ass.” Later after his promotion to Major he became our battalion XO.
He did not suffer fools gladly. As a 2Lt you better have your stuff together when dealing with him. I had the experience of spending three days in a jeep with him when we reconned and selected DZ’s for the re-enactment of the Allied Airborne invasion in Holland. He drove the jeep from Lee Barracks outside Mainz to Holland and back. The two of us made all the arrangements with the Dutch officials and landowners. Unfortunately, I subsequently missed the drop and resulting party with the Dutch people because I had stay back to be interviewed to be a general’s aide at Corps HQ. I refused the general’s aide job (the General was world class REMF a-hole) and wished I had been able to make that C-47 jump. My rifle platoon enjoyed telling me how they couldn’t buy a drink in any bar they visited and how the Dutch women were all over them. The party after the drop lasted for two days, as it was the 25th anniversary of the airborne invasion.
Thanks for providing this rgr769, you jogged some memory banks for me. You know we were across the river and up the hill from y’all at Camp Pieri. We got together with some of the boys from Lee Barracks on occasions, mainly to swap lies and drink cold beer. He and possibly you, were still being talked about in ’72, IIRC. There was talk of a young officer that had turned down a Dog Robber’s job cause the General was a REMF. Sure you remember and saw that the German and younger French were real down on the Americans. My several trips into Holland, my money was no good and could not buy food or drink. Those folks appreciated what the US Army had and was still getting done. Good Times.
Yes. I rented an apartment in Mainz-Gonsonheim from a couple in their 60’s. They were quite friendly to me. I think they appreciated the fact we had liberated their country from the Nazi’s and saved Europe. The young Germans seemed to despise us. But on the other hand, that seemed to be true of most civilians living near any military base in the U.S. The only place I went on AD where Americans seemed to be universally liked by the people was Australia. Because I turned down that aide job that would have cancelled my orders for RVN, my father was quite unhappy with me, but I made the right decision. My service in RVN was the most valuable thing I did in my six year career as a Regular Army officer. Serving with men like Maj. C.Q. Williams was another.
The Special Forces Assoc. Chapter in Charlotte, N.C. is named for him. He was truly a legend. I would have been more in awe of him had I known then what he did to earn the MOH. The men he saved from certain death will likely never forget him.
True that. Wish I’d of paid more attention to some stuff in my youth. The men I served with were honorable, dedicated soldiers and Americans. Maybe it’s just brought out more, but seems like we didn’t have many dirtbags. Maybe, back then we got rid of them before they contaminated others. Who knows. Busting posers and hanging out with my semi own kind is what brought me here to this site.
Surprised he wasn’t wounded in the testicles. They would have been a large target. BZ LT Williams, I am humbled by such men.
Salute!
AW, thanks for posting this. “C.Q.,” as he liked to be called by his friends, was a soldier’s soldier. Most of us who served with him in the 509th had no idea of the level of heroism that earned him the MOH. Even in greens, he never wore the medal, only the ribbon. I never heard him mention Vietnam the entire year I served with him. You would think it might have come up during the those three days I spent with him on the trip to Holland, but like most real heroes, it wasn’t something he talked about.
My honor and pleasure, rgr769. That you knew and served with him puts a human face on the hero, something lacking in most citations. It also adds details missed in the write-ups; that he was a Mustang, for example.
So thank you for requesting Major “C.Q.” Williams. His story and the others posted here on Valor Friday are a stark contrast to the valor thieves that cross these pages. This is exactly why I post.
Sometimes I think we lose sight of the fact that the overwhelming majority of those of us that answered the call, whether draftees or volunteers, served honorably and performed our duties to the best of our abilities, whether in combat or otherwise. We are proud to say we served. And the POSers, embellishers, and those who never served will never understand that pride. I have wondered why; and I think it is because they desperately want something for nothing.
I am humbled by the heroism of men and women such as this.
MOH citations are always difficult to read.
I know the tears will come.
Nevertheless, they should be a regular part of public education.
Thank you, Ed for posting this story…Hats off to rgr769 for proving the request and the additional personal comments on this humble and honorable Soldier.
Rest In Peace, Sir. Salute.
Absolutely awe inspiring. Thanks for posting.