Tuesday, June 20, 2006

Marine Staff Sgt. Benjamin D. Williams

Remember Our Heroes

Marine Staff Sgt. Benjamin D. Williams, 30, of Orange, Texas

SSgt. Williams was assigned to 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.; killed June 20 while conducting combat operations in Anbar province, Iraq. Also killed were: Cpl. Christopher D. Leon, Lance Cpl. Brandon J. Webb and Pfc. Christopher N. White.


Debby Schamber
The Orange Leader

Before Benjamin DeWayne Williams left on his third and last deployment in November, his sister, Jennifer Alderman, asked him what she would do if he didn’t come home again. His reply was to just remember that he was doing it all for her so she could be free.

Williams, 30, of Orange, was one of three Marines who was killed June 20 while conducting combat operations against enemy forces in Al Anbar Province, Iraq. Also killed was Lance Cpl. Brandon J. Webb, 20, of Swartz, Mich., and Pfc. Christopher N. White, 23, of Southport, N.C.

“He loved his country and believed in it,” Alderman said. “He was a soldier to the bone.”

Williams had made it very clear to his family that being a soldier was what he was born to do.

“He was very good at what he did and loved being a Marine,” Alderman said. “He gave everything he had and more.

“He may have been big, bad, tough Marine, but at home he was a big old teddy bear,” Alderman said.

Joan Williams, who married Benjamin Williams’ father, David Williams, in 1987, said she credits her stepson’s manners to his upbringing by his mother, Linda Breaux.

“He was a strong and genuinely caring man,” Joan Williams said.

Ben William’s paternal grandmother, Carsand Williams, fondly called him “Bubba.”

“We always thought Bubba would survive,” she said. “He called just last week and said he was coming home soon.”

Ben Williams was supposed to be coming home on leave Aug. 15 and had plans to surprise his mother by flying her from her Indiana home to meet him in San Diego, Calif., for the long drive back so they could spend time together.

He kept in contact with his family by phone and emails.

While Ben Williams was on his way home for last leave he called his stepsister, Davina Santerre, and told her how happy he was to be looking at land while on a ship.


“He told me he was looking at the good old U. S. of A.,” Santerre said. “When talking to him I didn’t feel like a stepsister because the step didn’t really matter.”

According to Linda Warner, assistant principal/activties director of Little Cypress-Mauriceville High School, while Ben Williams was a student he was on the football team and during his sophomore year his relay-team set a record. He was also an above-average student.

“He was an all-American guy and the type of guy you didn’t hear much about. But, he was there when he was needed,” Warner said.

While in the Marine Corps, Ben Williams was promoted to staff sergeant and was an infantry unit leader assigned to the First Battalion, First Marine Regiment, First Marine Division First Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.

He joined the marines right out of high school in 1994.

Ben Williams’ personal awards include the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, Navy Unit Commendation, Navy Meritorious Commendation, Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global war on Terrorism Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, and Sea Service Deployment Ribbon.

“He died doing what he loved to do and that was being a soldier,” Carsand Williams said.

Plans for a memorial service at LC-M High School are being made, Alderman said.

Marine Staff Sgt. Benjamin D. Williams was killed in action on 06/20/06.

18 comments:

Anonymous said...

dewaine was a great friend to any one....and if you had to go to war, you would definatly want him on your side....He was a guy that believed in teamwork....The last time I saw him I told him thanks for everything he's fighting for, but did not realize I would never see that smile again...My freedom has never meant so much....never thought you would make a tough guy like me cry.....Thanks buddy,
Mike Cherry...

Anonymous said...

wow, i remember the last time Bubba was home and i asked him when he was comming home for good, and he really couldn't put a time on that question. I miss him very much even though i didn't get to see him very often when he was home it was always an honor to talk and visit with him. I love ya and miss ya Bubba you made a difference in poeple's lifes that you came in contact with. i silute you and have all the honor and respect for you. Not only because you faught for our country and you faught for what was right but because you loved doing it. i love ya and will see you someday on the other side of glory.

Always your cuz
Torri

Anonymous said...

Just a quick note to thank Staff Sgt. Williams for his bravery in protecting this great country of ours. The pastor at my church located in Colonie New York, asked us on Memorial Day to pray for those service people who lost their lives this past year and I chose Benjamin's name from the basket that was passed this past Sunday. Rest in peace, I will continue to pray for you and your family and I will never forget what freedom means for all of us.

Anonymous said...

I remember when SSgt Williams came from the School Of Infantry to 1st Bn, 1st Marines for the first time. He joined us just as the battalion was scheduled to conduct a 24 mile "hump". Not an easy thing to step into without having gone through the conditioning that the rest of the battalion had conducted already in preparation for the 24 miler. While more than a handful of people had fallen out, at the end, Ben was still there. I can remember that I could see that he was hurting but he was gutting it out and I knew that from then on that he would be one of the Non Commissioned Officers that you could count on...

I will always remember his quiet strength, professionalism, and most of all his laugh. He was the glue that holds squads, platoons, and companies together. Ben, I will always remember you. I hope that your family knows that you brought light to a dark world and impacted so many young Marines in such a life changing way.

Semper Fi.

Anonymous said...

Love you Ben Happy Birthday

Anonymous said...

hi dad, even though you were only my step dad for a little while, you were very good to my mom and the 4 of us. i remeber when i hurt my knee on the boke you bought me and you made me feel better. i saw you a little while before you left at the del mar beach. garret lil ben has a hard time everytime the 20th comes around. mom misses you too. you were a great stepdad and good dad to garrett. i miss you and i know you died a hero. i love you dad.

love
Marisa

Anonymous said...

I would just like to honor your name by saying thanks. I have the same plan you seemed to have. I love playing football, but I have always said when I graduate I was going to join the Marines, nice to know someone else did the same. Im just now a freshmen at LCM. They have a big plack honoring you in the field-house. It brought tears to my eyes seeing it. Because of you I can have a plan, I can have hopes and dreams. So thank you
Rest in God's peace

- Jacob Richard

Anonymous said...

Hi dad i miss you alot its little ben i know this is my first time writing i just want you to know i meant to i just couldnt seem to i will always luv you im turning fourteen in a week or more u died a hero im greatful i know u wernt in my life mich i wish you were but i think about you all the time i have a picture of you under my pillow and i luv you






by benjamin g.l. williams

Anonymous said...

I have been looking at this page for sometime now. I never really know what to say on these things, but I remember playing football with him and that summer we graduated from high school. We were suppose to ship off to boot camp the same time. He ended up going sooner because a slot came up.

Anonymous said...

BEN YOU WERE THE GLUE THAT HELD EVERY THING AND EVERY ONE TOGETHER. MISS YOU SO MUCH

Unknown said...

Hey dad it's lil Ben i miss you so much I wish you could be here to see me I'm 6'3 not so little anymore haha but uh I'll be 17 in June I just wanted to say I love you so much and you will always be my hero alway R.I.P dad

Love
Lil Ben

Benjamin G.L Williams

Anonymous said...

Hey dad it's lil Ben although I'm not so little anymore haha Im 6'3 and I'll be 17 in June I've missed you so much itll be 9 years soon I love you dad you are my hero and always will be always R.I.P dad

Love
lol Ben

Benjamin G.L Williams

Kimber said...

Happy Memorial Day dad! I am always thinking about you and I know little Ben misses you all the time. Because of you I am enlisting into the service and I will be the best I can. I love you and miss you.

Anonymous said...

People still read this...never forget....

Unknown said...

Hey pops it's been ten years today there isn't a day that goes by where I wonder what it would've been like to have you hear with me as I grew but I'm 18 and I'm doing well I wish you could see me I love you and miss you so much RIP pops you will forever be my hero

Love Benjamin williams

Unknown said...

Happy Father's Day I love you pops I'm having a baby girl soon wish you could be here for it you never leave my thoughts I try to be a man that'll make you proud and I hope I'm doing alright in your eyes.

Love always your son
Benjamin Williams

Unknown said...

Ben,
You are a good young man and little brother, and you will be a good father to Olive just like dad was to us. Wish he was still around too, he would be around and proud of you regardless of the past and all. Love you kiddo, and I am sure he is looking down on us too.

Unknown said...

Love you and miss you dad, wish you were still around to see Ben and his gorgeous little girl. He misses you and I am sure needs your encouragement from time to time.
Love you