Medal of Honor Monday: Marine Corps Lt. Col. Ernest Calvin Williams

Marine Corps 1st Lt. Ernest Calvin Williams, an infantryman, received the Medal of Honor for valor in the Dominican Republic. 

Williams was born on Aug. 2, 1887, in Broadwell, Illinois, to Thomas Buchanan Williams, a farmer, and Annie Williams. He was the oldest of three children.  

He grew up in a close-knit rural farming community where hard work and self-reliance were integral to daily life. Williams attended rural schools in Lohan County, Illinois, where terms were scheduled around non-harvest periods, typical of rural farming communities at the time. 

Williams was 19 when he enlisted in the Marine Corps as a private, Jan. 5, 1907. He later attended officer training and was appointed second lieutenant Jan. 30, 1909. After his promotion, Williams received additional training at Marine Barracks, Quantico, Virginia, which was a central hub for preparing officers for leadership roles. Williams deployed to the Dominican Republic in 1916 while assigned to the 1st Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment. There, he was charged with securing a strategic position in the northern Cibao Valley and a fortress at San Francisco de Macoris, held by about 40 Dominican fighters who posed a significant threat to the Marines in the area. 

As a first lieutenant, Williams led a direct 12-Marine assault on the San Francisco de Macoris fortress gate amid heavy rifle fire, Nov. 29, 1916, the date of his Medal of Honor action. 

Eight of his men were wounded, but Williams pressed on with the four remaining Marines. He threw himself against the gate as it was closing and forced entry despite the threat of enemy fire.  

Narrowly escaping death at the hands of a Dominican rifleman, Williams and his men disposed of the prison guards and within a few minutes gained control of the fort and secured the approximately 100 prisoners confined there. No Marines were killed. 

In forwarding Williams’ nomination for the Medal of Honor, Commandant of the Marine Corps Maj. Gen. George Barnett wrote: “It appears that by his conspicuous gallantry, initiative and excellent judgment he solved the problem which might have proved a serious one had the enemy been given time to organize and consolidate.” 

Secretary of the Navy Josephus Daniels, acting on behalf of President Woodrow Wilson, approved the medal that was presented to Williams, April 27, 1917, after which he was promoted to captain. 

The following year, Williams was deployed to France, where he served as battalion commander for the 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Division, American Expeditionary Forces. While in France, he was promoted to major, July 1, 1918. 

World War I battles participated in include: 

• Chateau-Thierry Campaign, July 15-18, 1918, to stop the German Spring Offensive, where he earned the Silver Citation Star, the third-highest award for valor. This award was converted to the Silver Star Medal under the approval of the then-Secretary of War Patrick J. Hurley, July 19, 1932. 
• Battle of Saint-Mihiel, Sept. 12-26, 1918, a successful offensive, where he earned a second Silver Citation Star. 
• Meuse-Argonne Offensive, Sept. 30-Nov. 11, 1918, where he earned his third Silver Citation Star. The offensive ended with the Nov. 11 armistice, while the Treaty of Versailles formally ended World War I, June 28, 1919. 
• Champagne/Blanc Mont Offensive, October 1918, where his actions resulted in Williams being awarded the Navy Cross Medal, the second-highest award for valor. 

Williams’ Navy Cross citation states that “he led his battalion with bravery and skill, attaining all objectives on time, keeping his troops close to the barrage, through heavy machine-gun and artillery fire from the enemy. After reorganizing on the third objective, he pushed forward strong patrols for exploitation, securing and maintaining a strong line for the night and the two succeeding days.” 

In early 1919, Williams returned to Marine Barracks, Quantico, where he led officer training. After 14 years of service, he medically retired March 17, 1921, at the rank of lieutenant colonel. He married Frieda Katherine von Essen, April 28, 1923, and in 1935 the couple took up residence in Seneca Falls, New York. 

Williams died July 31, 1940, at the age of 52. He was buried in Woodlawn Cemetery in Indianola, Illinois.  

This article is part of a weekly series called “Medal of Honor Monday,” in which we highlight one of the more than 3,500 Medal of Honor recipients who have received the U.S. military’s highest medal for valor. 

Source: Department of Defense

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