William M. Usdane Award

Frederick “Will” Williams

When: 2007
Where: San Antonio, Texas
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Frederick Will Williams

Synopsis

Frederick Williams, a retired U.S. Army Sergeant First Class, sustained major injuries in a suicide bomber attack while serving in Baghdad in 2004, resulting in lasting physical and psychological challenges. Williams found employment with TRDI monitoring security cameras at Fort Hood, TX, through the AbilityOne® Program, expressing gratitude for the opportunity to continue serving his country after his military service. Williams has since retired.
 

“A career soldier who was robbed of the things most of us take for granted was given a second chance to serve his country. I do so proudly.”

The Full Story

“On Sept. 18, 2004, at approximately 3:40 p.m., my life, as I knew it, would never be the same,” said Frederick Williams, Sgt. First Class, U.S. Army (Ret.). A suicide bomber attacked Williams’ patrol stationed in Baghdad, supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. He served as a convoy escort and managed a team of 14 soldiers escorting dignitaries through the war zone. Williams sustained major injuries in the attack. Today, a piece of shrapnel remains in his head between a nerve and an artery. As a result of injuries to his leg, Williams uses a cane and is unable to stand for long periods. He has memory loss and suffers from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.

After 23 years of service, and a year and eight months after the attack, Williams retired from the Army. Seven months later, he secured a job with the Training Rehabilitation & Development Institute (TRDI). He is now employed monitoring security cameras for the airfields at Fort Hood, TX, ensuring that the runway is safe for aircraft operation.  

NISH (now SourceAmerica) recently selected Williams as a spokesperson for the AbilityOne® Program, addressing audiences of federal customers. During a recent presentation, Williams expressed appreciation to Barry Barnett, contracting officer for the Directorate of Contracting at Fort Hood, TX, and his staff, for awarding the AbilityOne Program contract at Fort Hood. “Because they put that pen to paper and went with AbilityOne, a career soldier who was robbed of the things most of us take for granted was given a second chance to serve his country. I do so proudly.”