The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Captain (Air Corps) George Vincent Williams (AFSN: FR-7733/ASN: 0-392271), United States Army Air Forces, for gallantry in action while serving as Pilot of a P-47 Thunderbolt Fighter Airplane of the 2d Fighter Squadron, 413th Fighter Group, EIGHTH Air Force, in the destruction and damaging of two or more enemy aircraft in aerial combat while participating in flights in North Africa. Captain Williams shot down the two planes consisting of one JU-87 and one JU-88 during an escort mission to medium bombers over enemy installations and positions on 3 April 1943 over Central Tunisia. Captain Williams has one hundred and twenty sorties over enemy territory to his credit in the period from 26 December 1942 to 26 April 1943, all in fighter type aircraft. As Squadron Commander, his keep professional knowledge of fighter tactics has been invaluable in leading flights of especially hazardous nature. Captain Williams has served the Armed Forces of his country gallantly and well, and has exemplified the highest traditions of the United States Army Air Forces.

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Silver Star to Lieutenant Colonel (Air Corps) George Vincent Williams (ASN: 0-392271), United States Army Air Forces, for gallantry in action while serving as Pilot of a P-47 Fighter Airplane in the 2d Fighter Squadron, 413th Fighter Group, EIGHTH Air Force, in action against the enemy on 7 August 1945. Colonel Williams, Mission Leader, after successfully covering a B-24 formation to and over its target at Teseuki Airfield, Kyushu, and after the bombing run, designated two squadrons as top cover and personally led one squadron of fighters down through the smoke and inclement weather to rocket and strafe remaining enemy installations and complete the destruction of the aircraft and buildings on the primary target. Leaving the target at extremely low level, Colonel Williams sighted a 10,000-ton armed enemy freighter under full steam and promptly initiated a rocket and strafing attack against it. Despite heavy and concentrated anti-aircraft fire directed at him, Colonel Williams pressed his attack so close that his rockets were extremely effective, scoring hits on the bridge deck and at the water line and his machine guns silenced the majority of anti-aircraft weapons thus enabling the remaining flights to complete the destruction of the vessel. Colonel Williams then rallied his Group for return to base, and personally led the Group in low-level attacks against targets of opportunity, hitting docks, warehouses, trains, factories, shipping and communications with rockets and machine gun fire, and wrought great havoc upon enemy installations and facilities. Despite adverse weather conditions and constant peril incidental to low-level attacks in the face of enemy ground and anti-aircraft fire, Colonel Williams displayed cool courage and aggressive leadership and was an inspiration to his pilots and made possible untold damage to enemy facilities and morale, without the loss of a single aircraft. The intense desire of Lieutenant Colonel Williams to destroy the enemy, and his unhesitating decision to launch on his own initiative daring low-level attacks in the face of enemy fire, is exemplary of the qualities of leadership desired in Air Force officers, and is in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service.