By Dixie Terry
First Sergeant James Nathan Williams, son of Nancy Rehder, of Marion, and James Williams of Thompsonville, retired from the U. S. Army on May 31, after serving twenty years.
Sergeant Williams was born and raised in Marion and enlisted in the U.S. Army in 2004 as a 13B (Cannon Crew Member) and attended Basic Combat Training and Advanced Individual Training at Ft. Sill, Oklahoma.
His assignments include the 4th Battalion, 27th Field Artillery Regiment (FAR), 1st Armored Division (AD), Baumholder, Germany, 1st Battalion, 6th FAR, 1st Infantry Division (ID), Fort Hood, Texas, 3rd Battalion 82nd FAR, 1st Cavalry Division (CD), Fort Hood, Texas, 3rd Battalion 16th FAR, 1st CD, Fort Hood, Texas 2nd Battalion, 12th FAR, 4th Id, Fort Carson, Colorado, 2nd Battalion, 4th ID, Fort Carson, Colorado, 2nd Battalion, 77th FAR, 4th ID FCCO, HHB,DIVARTY, 4th ID, FCCO. The last post he served as the Senior Military Science Instructor at the University of Maine, Army ROTC.
Williams has served as a Cannoner Number One Man, Gunner, Chief of Section, Gunnery Sergeant, Platoon Sergeant, Battalion Master Gunner and Battery First Sergeant.
He has deployed to Operation Iraqi Freedom 05-06, Operation New Dawn 2011 and Operation Enduring Freedom 08-09 and 2019, with one rotation to the Republic of Korea 2015-16.
His military and civilian education includes the Basic Leaders Course, the Advanced Leaders Course, the Senior Leaders Course,and the Master Leaders Course and the Common Faculty Development Instructor Course. In addition, he has attended the Master Resiliency Trainer Course, the Equal Opportunity Leaders Course, the Antiterrorism Officer Basic Course and the ISG/CDR Course.
His awards and decorations include: the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart,Meritorious Medal, Armed Forces Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Good Conduct Medal,National Defense Service Ribbbon, Iraq Campaign Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Army Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Ribbon, Iraq Campaign Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Korean Defense Service Medal, NCO Professional Development Ribbon, ArmyService Ribbon, NATO Service Medal, Combat Action Badge, and is a recipient for the Honorable Order of Saint Barbara.
Williams currently resides in Levant, Maine, with his wife, Jenilee and their daughters, Annabelle and Addilyn.
His grandparents are the late James and Marjorie Williams, formerly of Pulley’s Mill, and the late James Terry of Goreville, and Dixie Terry, of Marion.