MAJOR ROBERT S. WILLIAMS, U.S.M.C., for his extraordinary heroism as Platoon Commander, First Platoon, Company “I”, Third Battalion, Fifth Marines, First Marine Division in the Cam Lo District, Republic of Vietnam on 24 and 25 July 1966. As Company “I” moved onto Hill 362, the then Lieutenant Williams’ platoon overran the forward security elements of an estimated battalion of the North Vietnamese Army. While in conflict with the security elements the Second Platoon bypassed the First Platoon and came under devastating preplanned fire by the enemy’s main force, suffering many casualties. Realizing the graveness of the situation and being constantly exposed to intense enemy fire, Lieutenant Williams led his platoon in the same frontal assault. Inspired by his courageous leadership and apparent calm in the face of overwhelming odds the First Platoon gained the time and terrain to cover the rescue of the Second Platoon’s wounded. When the numerically stronger force counterattacked, Lieutenant Williams took command of the two platoons and formed them into a tight perimeter for a better defense. Fearing that wounded had been left behind, he went out of the perimeter alone to search for them. There were bursts of automatic weapons fire and the covering force began receiving withering assault fire from the advancing enemy. Artillery fire was called in to within seventy-five yards of the forward positions to avoid being completely overrun. Returning to the perimeter, Lieutenant Williams emerged from the tall grass and reported he could not find any more wounded. Throughout the remainder of that day and the next, Lieutenant Williams, constantly exposed to enemy fire, moved from position to position encouraging his men and directing their fire. Then early in the evening of 24 July, being too engrossed in his duties to seek cover, he was painfully wounded in the leg by a mortar attack, but he refused treatment until his troops had been cared for and continued moving from position to position bolstering morale and the fighting efficiency of his unit. Lieutenant Williams’ extreme valor, undying devotion to duty, and initiative at the risk of his own life, saved the lives of many Marines and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.