USS James E. Williams

## USS James E. Williams (DDG-95)

USS James E. Williams

**USS *James E. Williams* (DDG-95)** is a Flight IIA *Arleigh Burke*-class destroyer in the United States Navy. The ship was named for Boatswain's mate Petty officer first class James Eliott Williams (1930–1999), a River Patrol Boat commander and Medal of Honor recipient from the Vietnam War who is considered to be the most decorated enlisted man in Navy history. As of April 2023 the ship is part of Destroyer Squadron 26 based out of Naval Station Norfolk.

### Construction

*James E. Williams* had her keel laid down on 15 July 2002 by the Northrop Grumman Ship Systems at Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, Mississippi. She was launched on 25 June 2003, sponsored by Elaine Weaver Williams, Chief Petty Officer Williams' widow. On 11 December 2004, *James E. Williams* was commissioned in Charleston, South Carolina.

### Service History

On 2 May 2006, *James E. Williams* deployed on her maiden deployment as part of the Global War on Terrorism Surface Strike Group (GWOT SSG) 06–2. *James E. Williams* joined with the amphibious transport dock *Trenton* and guided-missile cruiser *Hue City* as part of a surge deployment. On 17 October 2006, *James E. Williams* completed her first deployment conducting anti-piracy operations off the coast of Somalia as part of the maritime security operations.

*James E. Williams* deployed again on 9 July 2007 as a part of the *Enterprise* Carrier Strike Group. The strike group consisted of the aircraft carrier *Enterprise*, the destroyers *Forrest Sherman*, *Arleigh Burke* and *Stout*; the guided-missile cruiser *Gettysburg*; and the fast-attack submarine *Philadelphia*, along with the fast combat support ship USNS *Supply*. On the morning of 30 October 2007, Combined Maritime Forces Headquarters, in Bahrain, received a call from the International Maritime Bureau, located in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, providing the status of the North Korean cargo vessel *Dai Hong Dan*, which had been taken over 29 October by Somali pirates. The ship was approximately 60 nautical miles (110 km) northeast of Mogadishu, Somalia. At that time, *James E. Williams* was about 50 nautical miles (93 km) from the vessel and sent a helicopter to investigate the situation. The destroyer arrived in the vicinity of the Korean ship midday local time and contacted the pirates via bridge-to-bridge radio, ordering them to give up their weapons. At that point, the Korean crew had confronted the Somali pirates, regained control of the ship and began communicating with *James E. Williams*, requesting medical assistance. The crew said the pirates had been in control of the bridge, but the crew had retained control of the steering and engineering spaces. The crew of *James E. Williams* provided care and assistance for approximately 12 hours to crew members and Somali pirates aboard *Dai Hong Dan*. Five pirates were captured and two were killed. The pirates remained aboard *Dai Hong Dan*.

In November 2007, *James E. Williams* aided the crew of the Taiwanese ship, M/V *Ching Fong Hwa* 168, which had also been hijacked by Somali pirates. After the pirates returned to shore, the destroyer escorted the Taiwanese ship out of Somali waters and provided needed supplies and medical assistance. On 19 December 2007, she returned from her second deployment to the Fifth Fleet AOR in support of Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom.

On 20 April 2009, *James E. Williams* left on her third deployment in three years, deploying to the sixth and fifth Fleet areas of operations from Naval Station Norfolk as the lead element of the *Bataan* Amphibious Ready Group. *James E. Williams* conducted maritime security operations in the Mediterranean Sea and Persian Gulf regions, including working with other nations' maritime forces. She returned to her homeport at Naval Station Norfolk on 19 October 2009.

On the evening of 8 August 2012, *James E. Williams* rescued ten mariners from a burning Iranian-flagged dhow (pictured) while operating in the Gulf of Oman. Of the ten mariners, eight were identified as Iranians and two were Pakistanis. The rescued mariners received medical treatment and transport to the carrier *Enterprise* before being repatriated back to Iran on 10 August. *James E. Williams* reentered the Mediterranean Sea on 25 August.