Stanley Raymond Williams
Sergeant First Class, U.S. Army

In July 1952, Sergeant First Class Stanley Raymond Williams was serving with Company E, 2nd Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division, in Korea.

On 18 July, SFC Williams' Company E was engaged with enemy forces in the vicinity of Chorwon, Korea, and was attacking heavily fortified enemy positions on a tactically important hill. As the Company advanced, it was exposed to intense hostile artillery, mortar bombardment, and small-arms fire that pinned the infantrymen down on an exposed slope leading to their objective. Knowing that his unit would suffer heavy casualties if it remained in its present position, SFC Williams charged alone into the murderous fire pouring from the hostile entrenchment. Reaching the crest of the hill, he shouted for his men to come forward. As they advanced to joint him, he moved about through the intense enemy fire in order to point out places of cover for the members of his platoon. Wounded, he saw that the numerically-superior enemy could not be dislodged by his small force, and ordered his men to move back. Refusing medical evacuation, he remained behind in order to cover their withdrawal and directed intense, accurate fire on the enemy until he died from his wounds. His self-sacrifice enabled his men to reach friendly line with safety and earned him the U.S. Army's second highest award for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross.

Medals, Awards & Badges

Distinguished Service Cross
Purple Heart
Army Good Conduct Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Korean Service Medal
United Nations Service Medal
Republic of Korea War Service Medal
Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation
Combat Infantryman Badge

Distinguished Service Cross Citation

The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Stanley R. Williams (RA13349750), Sergeant First Class, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving with Company E, 2d Battalion, 23d Infantry Regiment, 2d Infantry Division. Sergeant First Class Williams distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against enemy aggressor forces in the vicinity of Chorwon, Korea, on 18 July 1952. On that date, the company in which Sergeant First Class Williams served was attacking heavily fortified enemy positions on a tactically important hill. As the friendly force advanced, it was exposed to intense hostile artillery and mortar bombardment which, combined with a vicious fusillade of enemy small-arms fire, pinned the friendly infantrymen down on an exposed slope leading to their objective. Realizing that his unit would suffer heavy casualties if it remained in its present position, Sergeant Williams charged alone into the murderous fire pouring from the hostile entrenchment. Reaching the crest of the hill, he shouted for his men to come forward. As they advanced to joint him, he moved about through the intense enemy fire in order to point out places of cover for the members of his platoon. Painfully wounded, he saw that the numerically superior foe could not be dislodged by his small force, and ordered his men to move back. Refusing evacuation, he remained behind in order to cover their withdrawal and direct intense and accurate fire on the enemy until he succumbed from his wounds. His gallant self-sacrifice enabled his men to reach friendly line with safety.

Headquarters, Eighth U.S. Army, Korea: General Orders No. 718 (November 22, 1952)

Burial

Sergeant First Class Stanley Raymond Williams is buried at Brounland Cemetery in Brounland, Kanawha County, WV.

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