Ruffin native celebrates 20 years in the Navy

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On June 26, Ruffin native Othea Williams I will celebrate 20 years of military service to the country. He is the son of Randell and Precious Renee Williams of Ruffin.

A 2000 graduate of Ruffin High School, Williams enlisted in the Navy in June of that year and completed recruit training in Great Lakes, Ill., then attended Hospital Corpsman “A” school.

In January of 2001, he attended Field Medical Service School (now Field Medical Training Battalion), in Camp Pendleton, Calif.

After graduation, he was assigned to 3rd Medical Battalion, Okinawa, Japan.

In July of 2002, he was reassigned to 1st Marine Division, Camp Pendleton where he was attached to 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines. During this assignment, he was deployed with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, Okinawa, Japan, in support of the Unit Deployment Program.

Upon return, he was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines until June of 2004. He then was assigned to Naval Medical Center San Diego and was appointed the leading petty officer of the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, as well as the Pediatric Nursing Department Leading Petty Officer. During this assignment, he was hand selected to deploy to Al Taqaadum Iraq, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

He was then reassigned to 1st Marine Division and attached to Regimental Combat Team 1, where he served as the personal security detachment corpsman for the unit commander.

In December of 2007, he was redeployed to Fallujah, Iraq, in support of the Global War on Terrorism. When he returned in January of 2009, he was assigned to 3rd Assault Amphibian Battalion.

In 2011, he was selected to the Surface Force Independent Duty Corpsman “C” school at the Surface Warfare Medical Institute, San Diego, Calif., and after graduation in April of 2012, he was assigned to 2nd Marine Division, Camp Lejeune, N.C., attached to 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marines.

From there, he was hand-selected for a Security Forces Assistance Advisory Team, and deployed to Dwyer and Delaram, Afghanistan, where he was a tactical casualty combat care instructor for medics of the Afghan National Army, as well as a medical provider for the Marines on his team.

At the completion of the deployment, he was assigned to be the Battalion Independent Duty Corpsman for 2nd Battalion, 10th Marines, and then assigned for the same duties at 10th Marine Regiment.

In June of 2015, he reported to Branch Health Clinic, Parris Island, and was assigned duties as the LPO/IDC for 3rd Recruit Training Battalion, 4th Recruit Training Battalion, Permanent Party Sick Call, Recruit Sick Call, with a second tour at 3rd Recruit Training Battalion.

In July of 2018, he reported to Naval Special Warfare Group 2 medical department and was detached to SEAL Team 8. He is currently deployed to the Horn of Africa in support of the Global War on Terrorism.

His awards include the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (3), Iraq Campaign Medal, Afghan Campaign Medal, Nato Medal, Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal and various other service and campaign medals.

During his time spent with Marines, he earned the Fleet Marine Force warfare qualification and is currently studying to earn the Expeditionary Warfare Qualification.