Matthew O. Williams
Matthew O. Williams is a sergeant major in the United States Army. He received the Medal of Honor on October 30, 2019, for his actions on April 6, 2008, as a member of Operational Detachment Alpha 3336, Special Operations Task Force 11, Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force-Afghanistan in the Battle of Shok Valley.
Early life
Williams was born October 3, 1981, and spent most of his childhood in the small town of Boerne, Texas. He initially wanted to be a detective or work for the FBI when he grew up, so he obtained a bachelor's degree in criminal justice at Angelo State University in San Angelo, Texas. After 9/11, Williams started rethinking how he could serve his country. He researched Special Forces programs and, in September 2005, joined the United States Army.Military career
In 2007, two years after he had joined the army, Williams became a Special Forces Weapons Sergeant with the 3rd Special Forces Group. Williams' first deployment was to Afghanistan and, on April 6, 2008, his unit was tasked to capture or kill high-value targets in the Shok Valley. The operation led to the events for which Williams was awarded the Medal of Honor.Williams was promoted to sergeant major during a ceremony at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, on February 28, 2020.
As of 2025, Williams, Lieutenant Colonel William D. Swenson, and Sergeant Major Thomas Payne are the only Medal of Honor recipients still on active duty. One recipient, Dakota Meyer, is serving part-time after reinlisting with the United States Marine Corps Reserve in April 2025.