Army Staff Sgt. Jesse L. Williams
Death: Apr 08, 2007
of Santa Rosa Calif.; assigned to the 5th Battalion 20th Infantry Regiment 3rd Brigade 2nd Infantry Division (Stryker Brigade Combat Team) Fort Lewis Wash.; Died April 8 in Balad Iraq of wounds suffered from small-arms fire while conducting combat operations in Baqubah Iraq. Fort Lewis soldier three Whidbey Island sailors killed in Iraq The Associated Press SANTA ROSA Calif. — A Fort Lewis Wash.-based soldier who won the Purple Heart on his first tour of duty in Iraq was killed during his second his family said April 9. Meanwhile the Department of Defense reported that three members of a bomb-disposal unit based at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island Wash. were killed April 6 near Kirkuk — the first Whidbey sailors killed in the war. Army Staff Sgt. Jesse L. Williams25 was killed April 7 by a sniper said Santa Rosa mayor Bob Blanchard a family friend. Williams who had been serving in Baghdad was assigned to the 3rd Stryker Brigade 2nd Infantry Division based at Fort Lewis Wash. his family said. Snipers were Williams’ biggest fear in Iraq Blanchard said. The mayor recalled Williams telling him on a recent trip home: “I can fight people eye to eye but I can’t fight back if I can’t see them.” Williams left behind a wife Sonya and their 11-month-old daughter Amaya. The three members of a bomb-disposal unit based at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island were Navy Chief Petty Officer Gregory J. Billiter36 of Villa Hills Ky.; Petty Officer 2nd Class Curtis R. Hall24 of Burley Idaho; and Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Joseph A. McSween26 of Valdosta Ga. The Defense Department did not immediately release the circumstances of their deaths. Billiter’s father Barry Billiter said his son had been in the Navy for 15 years and was on his third tour of Iraq. Barry Billiter had been in touch with his son by e-mail and said he did not know how he Died. “He was a wonderful son” he said. Billiter was married and had one child. His wife is a seventh-grade science teacher at North Whidbey Middle School; pupils were advised of Billiter’s death in a written notice April 9 The Herald newspaper of Everett Wash. reported. The three sailors were assigned to Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit 11. “We’re not the guys who go out and blow stuff up” Chukk Fogel who took bomb technician training with Hall told the Everett newspaper. “We blow stuff up in safe areas. We blow stuff up to save personnel and property.” Fogel of San Diego said Hall was fun-loving and not afraid to take risks. Hall’s sister Brenda Thiebeault said the family was not ready to discuss his death. Jesse Williams who won the Purple Heart after shrapnel struck his arm during a clash with insurgents on his first tour is now up for a Bronze Star for rescuing two soldiers from a burning vehicle three weeks ago Mayor Blanchard said. In that case the soldier’s unit came under attack and a roadside bomb ignited extra gasoline aboard a vehicle in which two of the occupants were trapped he said. He saw the white-hot fire of combat on both his tours. “He was right there” Blanchard said. “And you know what? That was Jesse that’s where he wanted to be.” Shortly before he left for his second tour of duty around Christmas the young soldier spoke before the Santa Rosa City Council to support a proposed memorial to honor men and women who Died serving their country. His father Herb Williams who was among those behind the effort recounted those words April 8. “Jesse thought he would come down and talk about it and now his name is going to be in it. It’s just eerie” the elder Williams told The Press Democrat of Santa Rosa. Operation Iraqi Freedom