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JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. (1/17/2013) – Family, friends,
and soldiers from 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry
Division gathered to honor the life and legacy of Staff Sgt. Wesley
R. Williams in a memorial ceremony at Evergreen Chapel, Jan. 16.
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Army Staff Sgt. Wesley R. Williams, October 10, 2012 (Photo courtesy
of U.S. Army)
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Williams, 25, of New Carlisle, Ohio, died Dec. 10, during combat
operations in Panjwa'i district, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered
when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive
device. He was assigned to Company B, the "Bayonet Company" of 1st
Battalion, 38th Infantry Regiment, 4th SBCT, 2nd Infantry Division.
“A true patriot, Staff Sgt. Williams loved his profession and
dedicated himself to serving his nation for a lifetime,” said Capt.
Adam Patten, 1-38 Infantry rear detachment commander, on behalf of
Company B commander Capt. Matthew Boise.
In too short a
period of time, he gave a lifetime's worth of service to more than
just his nation, Patten continued.
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According to Boise, Williams was a young, extremely
energetic and skilled noncommissioned officer. He would
always find humor in a tough situation, was committed to
accomplishing the most difficult tasks and always gave his
best.
“Several of us will remember how hard Staff
Sgt. Williams fought, in his most desperate moment, for his
own life and more importantly, for the lives of his
soldiers,” Patten said.
“He always displayed great
loyalty and true passion for being a soldier,” said Staff
Sgt. Spencer Wright, 1-38 Infantry rear detachment
headquarters platoon sergeant, who spoke on behalf of Sgt.
1st Class Donald Register, Williams' platoon sergeant.
“He didn't sleep or quit until he was satisfied with the
results and, to me, that showed his true character as a
leader,” said Wright.
The lasting impression
Williams made on those around him was further illustrated by
Wright through the words of a soldier downrange, who
recalled first meeting Williams in 2010.
“When I
came into the Company B family, Spc. Williams greeted me
with open arms and spent countless hours teaching and
mentoring me on how to be the very best soldier I am today,”
said Wright. “For that, I am eternally grateful.”
“Staff Sgt. Williams will always be remembered as a true
American hero,” quoted Wright.
“To his endless gifts
honed through a perfectionist's quest, generations of
soldiers will now bear likeness to his leadership traits and
culture of character,” Patten said on behalf of Lt. Col.
Chad Sundem, 1-38 Infantry commander.
The Brigade
Soldier of the Year, Williams was also a husband, father and
father-to-be.
“As we go forward, we take with us
Staff Sgt. Williams' memory and his examples of courage,
leadership, humility and service,” said Patten on behalf of
Boise.
“We will not falter, we will remain ‘Rocks',”
he continued. “We will never forget our sense of duty – we
will fix bayonets, we will move on - ‘To the Objective', so
‘Let ‘em Come!'”
In Memoriam
Staff Sgt. Wesley
Ross Williams, of New Carlisle, Ohio, was born Mar. 17,
1987, and graduated from Tecumseh High School in 2005.
Following graduation, he attended Basic Training and
Advanced Individual Training at Fort Benning, Ga., in the
military occupational specialty 11B, Infantryman.
Williams completed Airborne School in 2005 and received the
Special Qualification Identifier of Parachutist. He was
assigned to 3rd Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment
(SCR), Vilseck, Germany, in March of 2006. He deployed to
Iraq with 2nd SCR as a radio telephone operator from August
2007 until October 2008.
In February 2009, Williams
was assigned to 1-38 Infantry, 4th SBCT, 2nd Infantry
Division at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. He deployed to
Iraq as a rifleman with the unit from September 2009 to
August 2010. A veteran of two Iraq tours, he deployed to
Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom as a
squad leader in November 2012.
According to Williams'
wife, Krista, in his spare time he enjoyed drawing, loved
tattoos, and was addicted to the video game series “Halo.”
Above all, he was a proud father.
“He was a really,
really great father,” said Krista.
“He always wanted
to be a soldier from the time he was little,” she added. “He
died doing what he loved.”
 Williams' additional
military education includes the Warrior Leaders Course
(2011).
His awards and decorations include the Bronze
Star Medal, Purple Heart, Army Commendation Medal with two
Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Achievement Medal with four
Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Good Conduct Medal (2nd
award), National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign
Medal with campaign star, Iraq Campaign Medal with two
campaign stars, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army
Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon with Numeral “3”,
NATO Medal, Combat Infantryman's Badge, Expert Infantryman's
Badge, and Parachutist Badge.
Williams is survived by
his wife, Krista, daughter, Faith, parents Linda and Lars
Williams, and siblings Amber, Hannah and Austin Williams.
By Army Spc. Reese Von Rogatsz
Provided
through DVIDS
Copyright 2013
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