THE WALL OF FACES

PFC Victor D. Williams was an infantryman serving with C Company, 1st Battalion, 12th Cavalry, 1st Air Cavalry Division. On October 26, 1971, all ground elements of the 1/12th Cavalry combat assaulted by helicopter off Fire Base Gibraltar for the start of Operation Thundering Hoofs. This assault came after a massive bombing run in the Long Kahn Valley, believed to be the home base of COSVN (Central Office for South Vietnam), the elusive controlling political body of the North Vietnamese Army. The mission was to find the destroyed bunker complex and gather important documents. When the infantry closed to within 200 yards of the site, they were advised the bombs had missed the complex due to weather, and to be alert of possible enemy presence. PFC Williams was on his first mission in Vietnam when he was killed three days into the mission on October 29, 1971, while searching in the jungle for the suspected COSVN base. He was part of a squad that had just come to a halt when a suspected Chinese claymore mine was detonated. Williams was killed instantly by the blast and seven others were injured. Two medivac helicopters were required for the dustoff (evacuation) of the dead and wounded. The five most serious were evacuated first, then the remainder, including Williams, were taken out on the second chopper. The dustoff took place in triple-canopy jungle with the aircraft hovering 150-200 feet above. Each trooper was lifted out in a stretcher basket by cable winch. They were strapped in and the cable was attached to the head of the stretcher. They dangled in a vertical position as they were pulled up through the leafy canopy into the helicopter. Williams’ body was wrapped in a poncho with his head covered as the lifting began. Rising up, the aircraft’s rotor wash blew the poncho off, and his comrades’ last view of Williams was him passing through the canopy with his head hanging down. His remains were flown to 24th Evacuation Hospital at Long Binh. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and information provided by Ken McAteer and Tom Strempka (June 2017)]

Dear PFC Victor Demott Williams, sir

As an American, I would like to thank you for your service and for your sacrifice made on behalf of our wonderful country. The youth of today could gain much by learning of heroes such as yourself, men and women whose courage and heart can never be questioned.

May God allow you to read this, and may He allow me to someday shake your hand when I get to Heaven to personally thank you. May he also allow my father to find you and shake your hand now to say thank you; for America, and for those who love you.

With respect, and the best salute a civilian can muster for you, Sir

Curt Carter

i shall never forget the day you were medavec out. you were the hero that day for with your body you sheltered others from getting killed. i have carried your memory all these years and until we meet again, boot to boot.

later my brother

Victor's obituary was sent in by his mother JoElla.

Photo courtesy of the Williams family, Gilbert Esquivel, and Ken McAteer.