photo #9035806

31 October 1966. Mekong Delta, Vietnam.Petty Officer 1st Class James E. Williams was leading 2 river patrol boats through narrow waterways. The jungle was thick. Visibility low. The mission was routine.Then the ambush began.An estimated 50 enemy motorized sampans and shore positions opened fire at close range. Machine guns. Automatic weapons. Rockets. The river exploded around them.Williams did not pull back.For nearly 3 hours, he maneuvered directly into the attack. He ordered return fire with precision. He exposed his boat repeatedly to draw fire away from others. When 1 craft was disabled, he shielded it with his own. When ammunition ran low, he pressed closer.He was sh*t during the battle. He kept fighting.By the end, dozens of enemy boats were destroyed or driven off. The river was littered with wreckage. His entire patrol survived.For that single engagement, he received the Medal of Honor in 1967. The Navy called it 1 of the most extraordinary naval battles of the war.But river warfare rarely makes headlines. No massive beach landing. No famous photograph. Just muddy water and gunfire in the trees.Williams continued serving for decades. Quiet. Professional. No celebrity status. No Hollywood story.He retired after 30 years in uniform. Most Americans never learned his name.A 3 hour fight against overwhelming odds. A handful of patrol boats versus an entire flotilla. A man who refused to break contact.He saved his crew.History barely noticed.Story based on historical records. This post is for educational purposes.