Summary Action: Staff Sergeant Dwayne E

Summary of Action:

Staff Sergeant Dwayne E. Williams is enthusiastically recommended for the Bronze Star Medal with Combat Distinguished Device for heroic achievement in connection with combat operations against the enemy while serving as Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician, Marine Wing Support Squadron 271, Marine Wing Support Group 27, Second Marine Aircraft Wing from 14 Feb to 31 Aug 2005 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom III. Staff Sergeant Williams distinguished himself through the following accomplishments.

During this period Staff Sergeant Williams displayed extraordinary leadership, professionalism, and technical proficiency in the EOD field way beyond his peers. He displayed the highest level of courage and the ability to react without hesitation in the most stressful of situations. SSgt Williams superb problem solving skills, professional knowledge in robotics and demolition was instrumental in the neutralization, and clearance of numerous explosive hazards which saved many lives of coalition forces throughout the Al Anbar Province.

During his seven-month deployment, Staff Sergeant Williams provided area EOD support to three different Forward Operating Bases within the Al Anbar Province. These areas consisted of Al Asad Air Base, Haditha Dam, and Al Qaim, providing EOD Technical support to occupying infantry units respectively. During this period SSgt Williams participated in the planning and execution of over 200 EOD missions critical to the safe conduct of II Marine Expeditionary Force (II MEF) operations in the Al Anbar Province of Iraq. In addition to the administrative duties of being the Embarkation SNCO, SSgt Williams also assumed the responsibilities of Motor Transport, CLASS V, Communication, Secret and Classified material sections when personnel were limited do to over tasking. SSgt personally responded to 80 EOD calls including thirteen Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), two vehicle searches, five post-blast investigations, twenty-seven Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) support calls, five landmine responses, five vehicle recovery operations, numerous EOD sweeps for hazardous UXO/IEDs, and two flight-line responses supporting U.S. and Coalition Forces. With his knowledge and leadership, the EOD team destroyed over 30,000 ordnance items with a net explosive weight of over 90,000 pounds. His personal efforts were directly responsible for reducing the risk of loss of life or serious injury to all forces operating throughout the II MEF Area of Operation.

Staff Sergeant Williams responded to 13 separate Improvised Explosive Devices targeting coalition forces, emplaced along MSR’s, and ASR’s. These IED's ranged from simple timed devices to complicated and deadly radio controlled devices. Each IED carries hazards and built-in precautions unique to the IED maker. In several cases of failed equipment SSgt Williams displayed courage and heroism in sacrificing his own life to emplace strategic explosive disruption charges within the fatal blast and fragmentation area. This courage in the face of death was demonstrated by SSgt Williams on a constant basis in hostile, hazardous, and non-permissive environment. The specific details of some of these missions are listed below.

On 12 April 2005, Staff Sergeant Williams responded to the intersection of MSR’s Mobile and Bronze, ISO RCT-2.  Here the reporting unit had identified two projectiles on the side of a road while escorting a convoy of about 50 civilian and military vehicles.  During this period SSgt Williams demonstrated supreme and extraordinary skills in the operation of robotics until mechanical failure.  With his knowledge and expertise a plan was developed to recover the robot and neutralize the IED.  With his courage he and his team were able to utilize the darkness of night selflessly subjecting himself to the imminent danger of a remote controlled IED to strategically recovery the robot manually and neutralize the IED out of the site of the insurgent activity.  With his attention to detail the circuit was disrupted successfully and (2) 130mm High Explosive Projectiles were recovered along with a long-range cordless phone and a motorcycle battery for intelligence exploitation.  Under conditions of complete darkness, and repeated enemy probing he removed this deadly hazard from the Area of Operations without injury or equipment loss and allowing the completion of reporting unit’s original mission.  His personal actions directly contributed to saving countless lives.

On 08 May 2005, Staff Sergeant Williams and his team was tasked to remove hazardous ordnance from a HUMMWV which was attacked by a Large SVBIED ISO 3/25. Initially they asked to blow beyond recognition the remaining caucus of the vehicle. Due to SSgt Williams experience and expertise he advised command leadership that this was not safe, or feasible due to the fact vehicle was still smoldering and hot to touch. SSgt and his team suggested the vehicle could be transferred to the FOB and disposed of another time. In order to move the vehicle, unstable ordnance items involved in the blast had to be removed from the burning vehicle. SSgt Williams and his team with disregard for his own safety exposed themselves in the open of the City of Haditha with limited security. While doing this, two insurgents made there way from one concealed position to the next gaining more effective range with there weapons. Next SSgt and his team received intense enemy small arms fire. SSgt Williams was able to utilize covered positions to complete his mission of the vehicle clearance while bullets zipped into there position. Eventually 3/25 snipers were able to engage and kill both insurgents before they could gain anymore ground on the recovery position. Due to SSgt Williams calm collective actions, and determination, this allowed for the mission to be accomplished without incident, or loss of life of any coalition forces.

On 17 May 2005, Staff Sergeant Williams and his team were tasked to respond to a IED, on ASR Uranium at approximately 2130. This after conducting several raids, sweeps and neutralizing one IED already on a day starting at 0400. Extremely fatigued SSgt Williams and his team continued to press on and complete each mission. Once on scene SSgt was informed that a IED was detonated on the reporting convoy and they observed several mounds of dirt and more possible IED’s. SSgt assessed the situation and took action. Due to equipment failure he was forced to approach the items and perform a recon. Under the fall of darkness SSgt Williams probed his way up along ASR Uranium towards possible IED’s. He encountered three Italian Anti-Tank Landmines as he proceeded to come closer and closer to the primary IED. SSgt Williams probed, unearthed, and rendered safe each mine with caution insuring no anti-lift devices were utilized. Once through the mine maze he noticed the primary IED which had been no further than 20 ft from him in the desert of darkness. With quick reaction he was able to disarm the device with no light relying on touch and experience before the bomber observed his presence down range. SSgt Williams successfully disabled the device and items were used for intelligence purposes. Yet again he was able to come through in the clutch saving and unknown amount of coalition forces lives.

On 02 Jun 2005, Staff Sergeant Williams along with his team were dispatched to ASR Uranium for IED housed in existing pothole. SSgt Williams and his team assessed and neutralized the hazard as usual. While performing a crater analysis on the shot hole SSgt Williams noticed miss placed sand on the opposite side of the road. With his heads up thinking he checked the area and found a secondary IED probably emplaced for first responders. Without hesitation and disregard for his on life, SSgt Williams screamed to his fellow team secondary, and to pull back. With a blink of a eye he made the decision to stay and neutralize the item being he was 2 ft away when he discovered it. Like lightning SSgt Williams uncovered, assessed the circuitry, and manually disarmed the IED by hand. The item was one Anti-Tank Landmine connected to a 130mm High Explosive Projectile set up for victim operation meaning the bomber did not have to be in the area for IED to initiate. Items were recovered and analyzed by the intelligence community. Yet again SSgt Williams heads up actions saved the lives countless coalition force members.

During this period Staff Sergeant Williams also provide instruction on IED enemy TTP’s to personnel of 3/2, the Army’s 57^th transportation unit, and the members of the Azerbaijanis Army who provide perimeter security at FOB Haditha Dam. He was able to educate over 800 military personnel members on the importance of IED awareness. Also SSgt Williams participated in 4 Grade III destruction operations, utilizing his technical expertise to properly dispose of unserviceable ammo totaling over 30,000 items, using limited explosives for destruction. SSgt Williams versatility, awareness, and attention to detail has allowed for the completion of many critical missions that might have not necessarily been successful in the hands of other personnel, contributing to the overall progression of the freedom of the Iraqi people.

Staff Sergeant Williams’s superior performance of duty reflected great credit upon himself, the Marine Corps, and the United States Naval Service. He is highly recommended for the Bronze Star Medal with Combat Distinguished Device.
Staff Sergeant Williams was in receipt of Imminent Danger Pay during this qualifying period.

Staff Sergeant was recommended for the Combat Action Ribbon during this period.

Years of Service: 8
Combat History: Yes

Recommended Citation:
HEROIC SERVICE WHILE SERVING AS AN EXPLOSIVE ORDNANCE DISPOSAL TECHNICIAN FOR MARINE WING SUPPORT SQUADRON 271, MARINE WING SUPPORT GROUP 27, SECOND MARINE AIRCRAFT WING FROM, 14 FEBURARY TO 31 AUGUST 2005. STAFF SERGEANT WILLIAMS CONDUCTED EXPLOSIVE ORDNANCE DISPOSAL OPERATIONS WHILE UNDER FIRE AND LIFE THREATENING CONDITIONS DURING COMBAT OPERATIONS IN SUPPORT OF 3/25, 3/2, AND RCT-2. ISO 3/25 WITH DISREGARDE FOR HIS OWN SAFETY SSGT WILLIAMS DARED TO EXPOSE HIMSELF IN THE OPEN CLEARING UNSTABLE ORDNANCE MUNTIONS FROM A SMOLDERING HUMMVE CRIPPELED FROM A LARGE SVBIED IN THE CITY OF HADITHA WHILE RECEIVING SMALL ARMS SNIPER FIRE. ALLOWING FOR RECOVERY OF THE REMAINS OF SERVICE MEMBERS PARRISHED AND CLASSIFIED EQUIPMENT CONTAINED IN VEHILCE ATTACKED. ALSO ISO 3/25 SSGT WILLIAMS PROBED ALONG ASR URANIUM WHICH WAS LAIDEN WITH MULTIPLE ANTI TANK LANDMINES, AT NIGHT IN COMPLETE DARKNESS WHILE IN THE DIRECT BLAST, FRAGMENTATION RADIOUS UP TO THE IED THAT HE ANALYZED, AND EVENUALLY MANUALLY DISRUPTED WITH DISREGARD FOR HIS OWN LIFE. ALSO ISO OF A CLB-2 CONVOY SSGT WILLIAMS AND HIS TEAM RESPONDED TO, AND NUETRALIZED A LARGE IED DEVICE ALONG ASR URANIUM, BUT MUCH TO THERE DISMAY A SECONDARY IED WAS PLACED SPECIFICALLY FOR FIRST RESPONDERS JUST ACROSS THE ROAD FROM THE ORIGINAL IED. WHILE PERFORMING A CRATER ANALISIS SSGT WILLIAMS ATTENTION TO DETAIL, ABILITY TO STEP UP IN LIFE THREATINING SITUATIONS, AND HIS QUICK REACTION. SSGT WILLIAMS YET AGAIN WITH DISREGARD FOR HIS OWN LIFE, NOTICED THE SECONDARY AND TOOK QUICK ACTION TO MANUALLY DISABLE THE VICTIM OPERATED IED. POSSIBLY SAVING THE LIVES OF HIM AND HIS FELLOW TEAM DOWN RANGE. IN TOTAL SSGT WILLIAMS RESPONDED TO OVER 13 IMPROVISED EXPLOSIVE DEVICES WITHIN THE AL ANBAR PROVINCE. DURING THIS PERIOD STAFF SERGEANT WILLIAMS RISKED HIS OWN LIFE COUNTLESS AMOUNTS TIMES UNDER FIRE AND HIGHLY VOLATILE CONDITIONS BY PERFORMING DANGEROUS RENDER SAFE PROCEDURES IN SUPPORT OF COALITION FORCES TRAVELING MAIN SUPPLY ROUTES WITHIN AO DENVER. STAFF SERGEANT WILLIAMS EFFORTS WERE VERY CRUCIAL IN DETERRING THE INSURGENTS PLOT TO CAUSE DEATH AND DESTRUCTION TO AMERICAN ARMED FORCES INHABITED ON AL ASAD AIR BASE. HE ALSO ASSISTED WITH THE ENHACENMENT OF THE 3/2 EXPLOSIVE HAZARDS AWARENESS TRAINING PROGRAM BY IMPROVING AND INHANCING THE ORDNANCE/IED IDENTIFICATION TRAINING AREA REFERRED TO AS THE IED TRAINING LANE. AS AN EOD TECHNICIAN STAFF SERGEANT WILLIAMS WAS INVOLVED WITH THE EXECUTION OF OVER 80 EOD OPERATIONS, (5) POST BLAST INVESTIGATIONS, (27) UNEXPLODED ORDNANCE RECOVERY’S, (5) VEHICLE RECOVERY’S, DESTRUCTION OF (13) IMPROVISED EXPLOSIVE DEVICES, (25,000) GRADE 3 AMMUNITION ITEMS AND THE DESTRUCTION OF OVER 30,000 TOTAL ORDNANCE ITEMS. STAFF SERGEANT WILLIAMS EFFORTS WERE INSTRUMENTAL IN SAVING LIVES, PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT ABOARD AL ASAD AIR BASE. STAFF SERGEANT WILLIAMS COURAGEOUSNESS, INITIATIVE, PERSERVERANCE AND TOTAL DEDICATION TO DUTY REFLECTED GREAT CREDIT UPON HIMSELF, THE MARINE CORPS AND WERE IN KEEPING WITH THE HIGHEST TRADITIONS OF THE UNITED STATES NAVAL SERVICE. THE COMBAT DISTINGUISHING DEVICE IS AUTHORIZED.

Updated- Sunday, October 30, 2005

This page was last updated on 07/19/06