Williams, Laurence E., CSM

PLEASE DESCRIBE WHO OR WHAT INFLUENCED YOUR DECISION TO JOIN THE ARMY.

Pvt. Williams

My Father, Uncle, and 1st Cousin served or were still active in the Army throughout my adolescent and teen years. My Uncle was still active while I served until I made E-6. I originally joined to qualify for the GI Bill, so I could return to college. I wanted to be a JAG lawyer.

WHETHER YOU WERE IN THE SERVICE FOR SEVERAL YEARS OR AS A CAREER, PLEASE DESCRIBE THE DIRECTION OR PATH YOU TOOK. WHERE DID YOU GO TO BASIC TRAINING AND WHAT UNITS, BASES OR SQUADRONS WERE YOU ASSIGNED TO? WHAT WAS YOUR REASON FOR LEAVING?

My Military Service Path

My service career path was Combat Arms. My primary MOS was Infantry, but I served in every Combat Arms branch. Infantry in Korea (2 tours). Armor and Infantry in Germany (2 tours), and Air Defense Artillery in Vietnam. I performed duties as a Basic Rifle Marksmanship Instructor and Drill Sergeant at Fort Knox, KY. Following DS status, I volunteered for Airborne and Ranger training and duty with the 1st Ranger Battalion at Hunter Army Airfield, GA as a Platoon Sergeant, Operations Sergeant, and Intelligence Sergeant. I served 1 year as the Operations Sergeant of a Brigade-sized unit at Hunter AAF after being promoted to E-8 and then back to Korea as 1SG of Joint Security Force Company at the JSA. I also had a Combat Support secondary MOS of Ground Surveillance Radar and performed duties on the Korean DMZ, Czechoslovakia, and East German borders on guard posts, observation posts and even combat patrols. I retired as the Command Sergeant Major of a Mechanized Field Artillery Battalion with the 24th Infantry Division.

IF YOU PARTICIPATED IN ANY MILITARY OPERATIONS, INCLUDING COMBAT, HUMANITARIAN AND PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS, PLEASE DESCRIBE THOSE WHICH MADE A LASTING IMPACT ON YOU AND, IF LIFE-CHANGING, IN WHAT WAY?
I participated in combat operations during my 1st tour to Korea from February 1967 through March 1968. My Battalion had 12 soldiers killed during "CONTACTS" against North Korean soldiers. I was very proud of my unit and bragged that we had sustained less loses then any other Battalion that was

My Military Operations

stationed north of the Imjin River during that period - but I swore that if I ever returned and had any rank, that would never occur again.

My next tour of duty was on the Czech and East German borders, and while I did not participate in combat operations, I witnessed, reported, and called for medical assistance for a Czech Border Guard who was shot by his comrade. He died in the snow awaiting verification by the West German border patrol of the action.

I was levied from Germany to Vietnam, where I spent all but 4 weeks of my tour on Fire Support Bases or Lai Khe Base Camp, which was called "Rocket City" by it's occupants. I only lost one soldier to combat operations, and my Battalion only lost 9 during that year. I finally stopped bragging about my Korean tour of duty!! I have never forgot the one soldier who was killed as I escorted his patrol to set up an ambush.

DID YOU ENCOUNTER ANY SITUATION DURING YOUR MILITARY SERVICE WHEN YOU BELIEVED THERE WAS A POSSIBILITY YOU MIGHT NOT SURVIVE? IF SO, PLEASE DESCRIBE WHAT HAPPENED AND WHAT WAS THE OUTCOME.
My M-42A1 "Duster" section was pulling static security along Hwy 13 when the radio alerted us that the Air Force "FAC" above us had enemy movement to our front in the triple canopy area below us. I moved the "Duster" that I was with to the edge of the cliff we were on and began firing into the area where the "bird Dog" had fired a marking rocket. The enemy returned fire, and we received radio information that the unit we were engaging was a much larger force than expected. We began automatic fire with our twin forties and sprayed the area in a wide horizontal arc. hen, the enemy's volume of fire, increased, I directed one of the crew members to also deploy our M-60 machine gun into the now attacking force. We requested field artillery support because we had expended all of our basic load 40 MM ammo and were now using the spare ammo from the belly of our vehicle. ll requests for field artillery support produced negative results. Then we had expended ALL of our 40 MM ammo and now only had the machine gun and our individual M-16s; I actually thought for a minute that we had "bitten off more than we could chew" and that the end was near. I could not move my other Duster to support us because they needed to maintain security to our rear.

Just when I thought the end was surely upon us, one of my sergeants called out for me to get off the track quickly. Was manning the front M-60 machine gun, and there was no way I was going to leave that position so long as there was still ammo available. The sergeant yelled, "look up, Sarge ! When I turned my eyes upward, I immediately saw an F-4 Phantom Jet swoop over us so low that our radio antennae shook violently. The sergeant yelled, "look behind you"! Immediately saw two oscillating fuel tanks flying overhead. Dived off the track and crawled under it just as the napalm bombs exploded in the tree line to our front. When we could breathe again, I realized that there was no more enemy fire. Also felt a shudder when I realized that NOTHING could have survived those bombs. Then the jets continued to drop 500-pound bombs on the area; I knew we were no longer in danger once the jets departed the area; I called for immediate resupply of 40MM and M-60 machine gun ammo. I became angry when the first response from the base camp was, "What's your body count, AMFS!!

OF ALL YOUR DUTY STATIONS OR ASSIGNMENTS, WHICH ONE DO YOU HAVE FONDEST MEMORIES OF AND WHY? WHICH WAS YOUR LEAST FAVORITE?

Family at Hunter

Hunter Army Airfield and Savannah, Georgia, holds the fondest memories for me. My service with the 1st Ranger Battalion and the lifelong friends that I met and still hold dear were there. The pure dedication of the officers, NCOs, and the men of the unit was (and is) the best that the military has to offer. The support shown to the unit by the citizens and elected officials of Savannah made the deployments more bearable due to the treatment we received when we came home. I purchased my first home in Savannah and became really active in the community and our church. My wife and I lived in that community longer than we had anywhere else in our lives - both of us left our hometown as teens. We lived in Savannah from August 1979 until January 2003. Having a hard time trying to decide if we will spend our retired lives in Petersburg, VA, or Savannah, GA.

FROM YOUR ENTIRE MILITARY SERVICE, DESCRIBE ANY MEMORIES YOU STILL REFLECT BACK ON TO THIS DAY.
The camaraderie shared by soldiers in combat or combat situations. I am in daily contact with soldiers I served with on the Korean DMZ (both tours) and with those I served with in the Ranger Battalion. While I did not participate in direct combat operations with the Rangers, actual combat

Remembering My Military Service

operations were conducted during my service with them, and we lost good men training for those operations. I also have lost some of those friends who continued to serve with Special Ops since I have retired. It is as if you have lost a close family member.

While my diagnosis of PTSD was caused by my combat service in Vietnam, it was the Ranger Battalion that ensured that I received the mental counseling that saved both my family life and my military career. The stresses of that assignment brought it all to bear, and my Chain of Command immediately took the action required to get my family and me the care we needed.

To directly answer the question - the memory that stands out the most is still the loss of one sergeant E-5 who only had 3 days left in country (VN) and a wife and a new born baby daughter who he never got to see.

WHAT PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF FROM YOUR MILITARY CAREER?
I received the Bronze Star for Valor while escorting an infantry squad from FSB Thunder I to set up an ambush overlooking a two-lane road that the combat engineers had just cleared. The road had not been used for years because of Viet Cong heavy activity in the area. It

My Military Achievements

was believed that the enemy would return during the hours of darkness and attempt to place mines or other explosive devices in the roadway.

My trail Duster (M42A1) was destroyed by a command detonated 155 mm American artillery shell as we ferried the infantry squad to their ambush site. When I heard the explosion and saw my trail vehicle disappear in a fireball, I directed my vehicle to perform a 180-degree turn and cover the wood line to our immediate right. I jumped from my vehicle and ran to the trail vehicle to help the soldiers who were attempting to clear the burning vehicle, some of them in flames. I shouted instructions for the men who were fleeing for their safety to move to the opposite side of the road and knocked two of them to the ground, and beat the flames out from their flak jackets. I then attempted to pull one soldier from under a burning vehicle when it suddenly exploded, sending me airborne backward and engulfing him in flames. My only combat loss. His foot was pinned under the vehicles track - 12 tons of steel. My platoon leader recommended me for the BS with V for rescuing the soldiers who were in flames and directing the others to safety.

OF ALL THE MEDALS, AWARDS, FORMAL PRESENTATIONS AND QUALIFICATION BADGES YOU RECEIVED, OR OTHER MEMORABILIA, WHICH ONE IS THE MOST MEANINGFUL TO YOU AND WHY?

My Most Meaningful Awards

I would guess the Ranger tab. It represents the most demanding course that I have ever undertaken and the most proficient unit that I have served with. The leadership and professionalism of the Officers, NCOs, and soldiers are superior to any unit in the armed forces. Rangers Lead the Way!!!

WHICH INDIVIDUAL(S) FROM YOUR TIME IN THE MILITARY STAND OUT AS HAVING THE MOST POSITIVE IMPACT ON YOU AND WHY?
1SG Lloyd Price, HHC, 3rd Bn, 23rd Infantry, 3rd Bde, 2nd Infantry Division. I had just been promoted to sergeant E-5. His advice on leadership was ALWAYS to remember 3 things when making decisions: Mission, Men, and Me.

MISSION - The military mission is always FIRST - complete the mission; when

My Most Influential Person

you do this, your superiors will look out for your welfare.

MEN - Look out for the welfare of your MEN, don't ask (or tell) them to do anything that you wouldn't do. Lead them by example. When you do this, the MEN will look out for your welfare - always covering your back and your A_S.

ME - Your career, you will never have to worry about ME because your superiors and your MEN will always take care of you because you always completed the MISSION and took care of your MEN.

After 1 SG Lloyd Price told me this, it worked for me for 22 years while in the Army, 13 plus years as a City Police Officer, Patrol Sergeant, and Vice Squad Supervisor, and now as a Federal Police Officer with 9+ years of service.

LIST THE NAMES OF OLD FRIENDS YOU SERVED WITH, AT WHICH LOCATIONS, AND RECOUNT WHAT YOU REMEMBER MOST ABOUT THEM. INDICATE THOSE YOU ARE ALREADY IN TOUCH WITH AND THOSE YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE CONTACT WITH.
John Jefferson, Korean DMZ and Vietnam - lives in Pensacola, Fl. George Nour, Korean DMZ, lives in Atlanta, GA. Larry Roberts, Korean DMZ, lives in Kentucky. Ron Asbury, Korean DMZ, lives in Oklahoma. All were members of HHC, 3rd Bn, 23rd Inf, 2nd ID at Camp Dodge,

Silver Star Award Ceremony at the Pentagon

Korea.

Rangers of 1st Bn, 75th Ranger Regiment who served at HAAF, GA: Max Delo, Rick Jacobson, Jeff Mellinger, Bryan Staggs, James Coats, James HD Burns, Michael Hall, Clement Ross, Ken Bachmann, Michael Etheridge, Roger Beck, Scott Michael Padgett, Sean Menches. Ranger Angelo Williams (2ndBatt), Rick Lamb (1st Batt & JSA), Charles Laws, George Ledford, Michael Clark, George Dee Ponder, Charles Brown, Ross McVey, Toney Harley, Steve Murphy, Don Lamica, Brendan Sean Durkan. Max Mullen, Mark Gagnon, Jerry Purkey, Robert Kramer, Douglas Fairchild, Kurt Vandersteen, Ronald Callahan, John Thayer, Al Parten, Steve Murphy, Gary Knutson, Stephen Morin, William Doc Donavan, Stan Fox, Teddy Cadle, Mark Deering.

Joint Security Area: Mark Deville, Bert Mizusawa, Bertran Vaughan, Stephen Tryon, John Bush, Richard Howard.
I am in touch with everyone listed by email and/or Face Book.

CAN YOU RECOUNT A PARTICULAR INCIDENT FROM YOUR SERVICE, WHICH MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE BEEN FUNNY AT THE TIME, BUT STILL MAKES YOU LAUGH?
Being in the RADAR section maintenance hutch charging the batteries for our "pack portable" radar sets when one of the new replacements stepped in the door and asked what he should do with the old hand grenade he had just found. There were three of us inside, and we all

My Funniest Military Memory

yelled for him to step back outside and just throw the thing into the minefield behind our hutch. He was fumbling with the safety pin, which was hanging dangerously 3/4 of the way out of only one side of the safety clip. As he backed towards the door, he stumbled on the door ledge and pulled the pin. He let out a LOUD "OOPS." We all yelled, just throw the damn thing outside. He turned and threw it, and it hit the door sill and bounced back into the hutch. He ran out, and the three of us charged the door - all reaching it at the same time and we became wedged in the door - no one giving quarter to the others. One of us, don't know who, turned sideways and we all fell out the door and crawled like the devil was on our tail away from the hutch. Standing outside was one of our Sergeants - laughing and holding his sides. The "new guy" was rolling in the dirt laughing!! Realizing that we were the butt of a joke, we all laughed until we cried - I'm chuckling now, just remembering the incident.

WHAT PROFESSION DID YOU FOLLOW AFTER YOUR MILITARY SERVICE AND WHAT ARE YOU DOING NOW? IF YOU ARE CURRENTLY SERVING, WHAT IS YOUR PRESENT OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY?
Trying to figure out what to wear to work each day was a constant bother for my wife, so I decided to make my transition to civilian life easier by REMAINING IN UNIFORM. I still had an intense desire to continue serving my country, or at least my community

My Post-Military Career

- so I entered law enforcement. I became a Police Officer with the Savannah, GA, police department. I served as a beat Patrol Officer, a Crime Prevention Specialist, Patrol Watch Supervisor, and Bicycle Squad Supervisor for our 2nd Precinct's Crime Suppression Unit (CSU). I was selected to serve as the Patrol Staff Sergeant in the office of the 1st Deputy Chief of Police/Patrol Bureau Commander for two Deputy Chiefs. My final assignment was as the Supervisor of the Tactical Reaction and Prevention Unit (TRAP), which was the city's Vice Squad.

After September 9, 2001, I applied for and was accepted for a federal law enforcement position with the Pentagon Force Protection Agency's Pentagon Police Directorate. While waiting for a school slot at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, I served as the midnight patrol supervisor for the Walter Reed Army Medical Center's Department of the Army Police Department. I am currently the 3rd shift Lead Officer for the Pentagon Police's Security Detachment at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces.

WHAT MILITARY ASSOCIATIONS ARE YOU A MEMBER OF, IF ANY? WHAT SPECIFIC BENEFITS DO YOU DERIVE FROM YOUR MEMBERSHIPS?

75th Ranger Regiment Scroll

I am a Life Member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, a Life Member of the U.S. Army Ranger Association, a Life Member of the 75th Ranger Regiment Association, and a member of the American Legion.

The main benefit that I derive from my memberships is being associated with men and women who share a common bond of having served our country and sharing "war stories" that most civilians would think were just dreams and lies, though we know to be real-life experiences. Even our spouses can share experiences that everyday civilian spouses could not or would not tolerate. So camaraderie is the most important benefit of memberships for me. Plus, we get to march in a lot of parades!!!

IN WHAT WAYS HAS SERVING IN THE MILITARY INFLUENCED THE WAY YOU HAVE APPROACHED YOUR LIFE AND YOUR CAREER? WHAT DO YOU MISS MOST ABOUT YOUR TIME IN THE SERVICE?

GA Governor Roy Barnes and me at Savannah City Hall

Military service provides you with leadership skills, instructional skills, and communication skills that are highly prized in all aspects of life and certainly in any career path you could choose. Your ability to make decisions in stressful situations, maintain a calm demeanor and keep others calm by your actions are assets to day-to-day life and career progression. I have not been in any job where my leadership abilities gained in the service have not been recognized by my supervisors and managers.

BASED ON YOUR OWN EXPERIENCES, WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO THOSE WHO HAVE RECENTLY JOINED THE ARMY?

Hereditary Membership in UNCSG Joint Security Area

Enjoy your service and make the most of it that you can. Take on as much responsibility as you can handle. Train your replacements. Never ask your subordinates to do any job that you wouldn't do - even in combat. Get all the service schools that you can - cross-train and cross-train your people in the many tasks that are inherent in your particular unit. My ranger platoon medic earned the EIB and won the Special Forces Medical Rodeo at Ft. Bragg. I served in the same division with one of my E-4s as a CSM after he completed college and returned to the army as an officer. I had never been in an artillery unit until I made E-9, but I had my soldiers train me in every gunnery task, and I taught them navigation and patrolling skills. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF EVERY OPPORTUNITY OFFERED TO YOU, be it Service Schools, Foreign Assignments, Administrative Details, and especially Joint Forces assignments. USE YOUR IN-SERVICE CIVILIAN EDUCATION BENEFITS.

IN WHAT WAYS HAS TOGETHERWESERVED.COM HELPED YOU REMEMBER YOUR MILITARY SERVICE AND THE FRIENDS YOU SERVED WITH.

50 Year Reunion & Ball of 1st Ranger Battalion

I have re-connected with people who I served with in the 60's, 70's and 80's. We have Unit reunions and email and phone conversations with soldiers I served with in Korea on the DMZ in 1967 -1968 and at the JSA in 1983 - 1984. I have found some of my Commanders and Supervisors and was surprised that we live in the same area. I was invited by my Brother-In-Law, who was in the Air Force before I entered the service because he had found some of his long-lost comrades. I have connected with soldiers who served in or are still serving with units that I served. You can keep up with your favorite unit, and you could also contribute to the history of the units that you served.

KC 7.5.24