Robert Alton Williams

Staff Sergeant Robert Alton Williams was born on September 10, 1943. He went into the Army at the age of 18, listing his hometown as Ashland, New Jersey — a neighborhood that straddles the border between Voorhees Township and neighboring Cherry Hill. Robert Alton Williams was unmarried.

On October 27, 1967, Staff Sergeant Williams was on patrol with five other soldiers near Saigon. They were ambushed by a group of Vietcong and during the firefight, five of the six men were killed. The five men from D Troop, 17th Cavalry who died in the fight were:

• SSG Robert A. Williams, Ashland, NJ (Bronze Star “V”)
• SSG Robert J. Carmody, New York, NY
• SGT Stephen P. Jones, Terre Haute, IN
• CPL Linden B. Dixon, Berwyn Heights, MD
• CPL Jon P. Turk, Melrose Park, IL

This action took place in Gia Dinh, South Vietnam. Staff Sergeant Carmody was the 1964 Olympic Bronze medalist in boxing. He held a record 4 all-Army titles in boxing and 3 inter-service titles, as well as a Bronze Medal from the Pan-Am Games and a CISM Gold Medal.

He was awarded the Bronze Star with V Device and the Purple Heart. Robert Alton Williams is honored on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial on Panel 28E, Line 089.

He is buried at Mt. Hope Cemetery, Southern Pines, NC.

I was in the field at the time of that patrol. I had just recently been on 3 or 4 missions in that general area. I would have been on that patrol with Sergeant Williams but had requested to Sergeant Olsen that I only go on his team or Sergeant Foams’ team. I did not want to go out with a team of new guys. So when I came back to the rest area nearby where a few APCs from the 17th Cav were making a temporary camp — this was kind of a new thing. The Cav had taken a new sudden liking to the LRRPs and decided to use them to patrol out in depth around those flat delta temporary camps. Before this the Cav had a great dislike of the LRRPs. I was there from the beginning (April 1967 to November 1967) of the LRRPs. In those early days of LRRPs the team members chose the team leaders as well as team leaders requesting one as member. You could also double up on patrols for additional time off to some place like Saigon. At this time I enjoyed being in the field and did on many times join other teams. I did not want to go out this time.

As I recall only Sergeant Williams was qualified to be a LRRP of the men on that patrol. First, I was a graduate of the 5th Special Forces LRRP school in Nha Trang. I believe your brother was also a graduate. Also a two-week school that the 199th had for the early LRRPs, to weed out those not suited. Most of the men on this patrol had neither and had been recruited by Sergeant Olsen as they needed new men to replace those of us whose one-year tour of duty was up in late November or early December. So that is the reason so many new guys ended up on one team. The LRRP schools were very demanding. First you had to run seven miles each morning in full gear with weapon before chow. And you had to know your stuff. Your brother took out a bunch of new men not really qualified as LRRPs that night.

I knew the area where the team was lost quite well. Probably more than the others since I would double up on missions at this time.

I can assure you that I never had any bad feelings about your brother. He was serious about his job as team leader. I was put in for Sergeant by him and he withdrew it because I got drunk and climbed the water tower with a couple of other guys and made a wee bit of noise. The First Sgt. of the 17th Cav was upset. It was not the first time I or my friend had tweaked him the wrong way. He was just trying to be a good First Sgt., and let’s face it I did not want to be a team leader which would have created much responsibility. I just wanted to go out on missions. I did not want the responsibility period. I drank a wee bit too much back then and still do, especially at night. But I was extremely serious on patrol and this is why most wanted me on their team.

I never remember your brother getting drunk with the rest of us. He took his beer once and then left. He was always concerned or worried with the next patrol. I must say in all honesty that I did not always agree with his following of orders by the book. But this is the way it was.

— Patrick — September 19, 2003