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USNS Pfc Dewayne T. Williams (T-AK 3009)

- Military Sealift Command -
- formerly MV Pfc Dewayne T. Williams (T-AK 3009) -


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Assigned to Maritime Prepositioning Ship Squadron (MPSRON) 3, USNS PFC DEWAYNE T. WILLIAMS is the second ship in the 2ND LT JOHN P. BOBO - class of Cargo Ships and the first ship in the Navy to bear the name. The ship carries a full range of Marine Corps cargo, enough cargo to support a Marine Air Ground Task Force for 30 days. Additionally, the PFC DEWAYNE T. WILLIAMS has lift-on/lift-off capabilities as well as roll-on/roll-off capabilities. Navy lighterage carried onboard consists of causeways, both powered and unpowered, and small boats to move them around.

The PFC DEWAYNE T. WILLIAMS usually participates in at least one major Maritime Prepositioning Force exercise per year. Since 1985, the MV PFC DEWAYNE T. WILLIAMS had been under long-term lease to Military Sealift Command from American Overseas Marine. On January 16, 2007, the Military Sealift Command purchased the ship, making her USNS PFC DEWAYNE T. WILLIAMS.

General Characteristics:Keel laid: September 1983
Launched: May 1985
Delivered: June 1985
Builder: General Dynamics, Quincy, Massachusetts
Propulsion system: 2 Stork-Wartsilia Werkspoor 16TM410 diesels; 27,000 hp sustained; 1 shaft, bow thruster; 1,000 hp
Propellers: one
Length: 672.6 feet (205 meters)
Beam: 106 feet (32.3 meters)
Draft: 29.5 feet (9 meters)
Displacement: approx. 44,330 tons full load
Speed: 18 knots
Aircraft: helicopter platform only (certified to land up to CH-53E helicopters)
Armament: none
Capacity:
  • 162,500 sq. ft. vehicle
  • 1,605,000 gallons petroleum
  • 81,700 gallons water
  • 522 TEU
Crew: 30 civilians and 25 civilian maintenance
Homeport: not assigned


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Crew List:

This section contains the names of sailors who served aboard USNS PFC DEWAYNE T. WILLIAMS. It is no official listing but contains the names of sailors who submitted their information.

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About the Ship's Name:

Pfc. Dewayne Williams, USMC, born Sept. 18, 1949, in Brown City, Mich., earned a Medal of Honor, posthumously, for his actions in Vietnam on Sept. 18, 1968, while assigned to Company H, 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines, 1st Marine Division A.

Citation:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a Rifleman with the First Platoon, Company H, Second Battalion, First Marines, First Marine Division in action against communist insurgent forces in the Quang Nam Province, Republic of Vietnam. Private First Class Williams was a member of a combat patrol sent out from the platoon with the mission of establishing positions in the company's area of operations, from which it could intercept and destroy enemy sniper teams operating in the area. On the night of 18 September 1968, as the patrol was preparing to move from its daylight position to a preselected night position, it was attacked from ambush by a squad of enemy using small arms and hand grenades. Although severely wounded in the back by the close intense fire, Private First Class Williams, recognizing the danger to the patrol, immediately began to crawl forward toward a good firing position. While he was moving under the continuing intense fire, he heard one of the members of the patrol sound the alert that an enemy grenade had landed in their position. Reacting instantly to the alert, he saw that the grenade had landed close to where he was lying and without hesitation, in a valiant act of heroism, he rolled on top of the grenade as it exploded, absorbing the full and tremendous impact of the explosion with his own body. Through his extraordinary initiative and inspiring valor in the face of certain death, he saved the other members of his patrol from serious injury and possible loss of life, and enabled them to successfully defeat the attackers and hold their position until assistance arrived. His personal heroism and devotion to duty upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.


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