World War II Honoree
World War II Veteran
Ray F. 'Tuffy' Williams
Branch of Service
U.S. Navy
Hometown
Vinita, Oklahoma
Honored By
Robert S. Cox
SERVED OVERSEAS IN THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER AS A RADARMAN ABOARD THE DESTROYER/SEAPLANE TENDER USS GREENE (DD-266/AVD-13), AND IN THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER ABOARD THE HIGH-SPEED TRANSPORT USS GREENE (APD-36). SAILED IN THE CARIBBEAN, AND ATLANTIC, SOUTH ATLANTIC, AND NORTH ATLANTIC OCEAN AREAS ON CARRIER AND CONVOY ESCORT DUTIES AND ANTISUBMARINE/HUNTER-KILLER OPERATIONS. HIS SHIP HELPED SINK 3 GERMAN U-BOATS IN MAY, 1943 IN THE NORTH ATLANTIC AND WAS AWARDED THE PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION. IT HELPED SINK ANOTHER U-BOAT IN OCTOBER, 1943 IN THE NORTH ATLANTIC. RETURNED TO CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA ON JANUARY 19, 1944 FOR CONVERSION TO HIGH SPEED TRANSPORT. AFTER CONVERSION SAILED TO ORAN, ALGERIA ON APRIL 12, 1944 TO TAKE PART IN 'OPERATION DRAGOON', THE INVASION OF SOUTHERN FRANCE. ON AUGUST 14, 1944 HIS SHIP LANDED AMERICAN AND CANADIAN TROOPS ON THE LEVANT AND PORT CROS ISLANDS, OFF THE FRENCH COAST BETWEEN TOULON AND CANNES. THE LANDINGS WERE IN PREPARATION FOR THE MAIN INVASION ON AUGUST 15, 1944. AFTER PERFORMING ESCORT DUTIES IN THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA, DEPARTED ON DECEMBER 6, 1944 AND ARRIVED IN NORFOLK, VIRGINIA ON DECEMBER 21, 1944. SAILED ON JANUARY 29, 1945 VIA PANAMA TO ULITHI ATOLL IN THE CAROLINE ISLANDS, ARRIVING ON MARCH 31, 1945. PARTICIPATED IN OPERATIONS AT OKINAWA IN THE RYUKYU ISLANDS. PERFORMED ESCORT DUTIES TO OKINAWA IN APRIL, 1945, THEN STOOD ANTI-SUBMARINE PICKET LINE OFF OKINAWA, AND RAN ESCORT MISSIONS BETWEEN OKINAWA, SAIPAN AND THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS. AT WAR'S END, EVACUATED ALLIED EX-PRISONERS OF WAR FROM NAGASAKI, JAPAN, WHICH HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY STRUCK WITH AN ATOMIC BOMB. DURING THE TYPHOON OF OCTOBER 9, 1945, HIS SHIP WAS AT OKINAWA AND WAS DRIVEN AGROUND ON THE NORTHWEST COAST OF KUTAKA BY WINDS IN EXCESS OF 100 KNOTS. THE SHIP WAS DAMAGED BEYOND ECONOMICAL REPAIR, AND DECOMMISSIONED AFTER ON-BOARD EQUIPMENT WAS SALVAGED. AWARDED THE AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL, WWII VICTORY MEDAL, AND NAVY OCCUPATION SERVICE MEDAL WITH ‘ASIA’ CLASP. ALSO AWARDED THE PHILIPPINE LIBERATION MEDAL FOR SERVICE IN THE LIBERATION OF THE PHILIPPINES. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AND ISSUED THE WWII HONORABLE DISCHARGE LAPEL PIN.