Charles Q. Williams
Major, U.S. Army
Medal of Honor Recipient
Vietnam War

Major Charles Quincy Williams (17 September 1933 - 15 October 1982) was a U.S. Army officer and a recipient of the U.S. military's highest award for valor, the Medal of Honor, for his actions during the Vietnam War.

Charles Quincy Williams was born 17 September 1933 in Charleston, SC. He joined the Army from Fort Jackson, SC in 1963. On 9 June 1965, Williams was serving as a Second Lieutenant with the 5th Special Forces Group. On that day in Dong Xoai, Republic of Vietnam, the Special Forces camp where Williams was Executive Officer was attacked by a large Viet Cong force. As the battle raged through the night and into the next day, Williams coordinated the defense and, eventually, the evacuation of the base, although he was seriously wounded four times.

He was subsequently promoted to First Lieutenant and, on 5 July 1966, was awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions during the battle.

Medal of Honor

Rank and organization: First Lieutenant (then 2d Lt.), U.S. Army, 5th Special Forces Group.

Place and date: Dong Xoai, Republic of Vietnam, 9 to 10 June 1965.

Entered service at: Fort Jackson, SC. Born: 17 September 1933, Charleston, SC.

Citation: 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.

Williams' Medal of Honor was presented to him on 5 July 1966 in Washington, DC. 

Williams reached the rank of Major before leaving the Army.

Death and Burial

Major Charles Quincy Williams died on 15 October 1982 at age 49. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, VA, in Section 65, Lot 1471.