USMA Class of 1946, Captain Williams was the pilot of a RF-80A Lockeed Shooting Star photo reconnaissance aircraft with the 8th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, 543rd Tactical Support Group. On 11 September 1950, while on a reconnaissance mission between Chockyon-dong and Sungin-myon, North Korea, his aircraft was shot down.

Williams was awarded the Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, the Purple Heart, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.