Jack Williams

Jack Williams (October 18, 1924 – March 3, 1945) was a United States Navy hospital corpsman who was killed in action while serving with a Marine Corps infantry unit in World War II. He was posthumously awarded the nation's highest military decoration for valor, the Medal of Honor, for heroic actions "above and beyond the call of duty" on March 3, 1945, during the Battle of Iwo Jima. U.S. Navy Reserve World War II Williams enlisted as an Apprentice Seaman in the United States Naval Reserve from his birth state of Arkansas in June 1943. He received recruit training at Naval Training Station, San Diego, California and was promoted to seaman second class in July 1943. Williams completed Naval Hospital Corps School training at Naval Hospital, San Diego, California and his rating was changed to hospital apprentice that September. In November, he was promoted to hospital apprentice first class. In January 1944, Williams received orders to the Fleet Marine Force (FMF), Field Medical School Battalion, Camp Elliott, San Diego, for combat field training, and transferred a few months later to Headquarters, 5th Marine Division at Camp Pendleton, California. In May 1944, Williams was promoted to pharmacist's mate, third class. On February 19, 1945, he landed on Iwo Jima with the 3rd Battalion, 28th Marine Regiment, 5th Marine Division. On March 3, when a Marine, James Naughton, was wounded forward of the front lines, Williams went to assist him and was hit by enemy fire. Williams completed his mission of mercy, dressed his own wounds, and rendered aid to another fallen Marine. On his way back to the rear, Williams was hit by an enemy sniper and died later that day. For his actions on that day, he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.