Ted Williams was born on August 30, 1918, in San Diego, California. He played professional baseball with the Boston Red Sox from 1939 to 1942, and he then enlisted in the Aviation Cadet Program of the U.S. Navy on May 22, 1942. Williams was designated a Naval Aviator and commissioned a 2d Lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps at NAS Pensacola, Florida, on May 2, 1944, followed by service as a flight instructor at NAS Pensacola from May 1944 to June 1945. Lt Williams next attended F4U Corsair replacement pilot training at NAS Jacksonville, Florida, from June to August 1945, and he then served as an F4U pilot with the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing at MCAS Ewa, Hawaii, from September to November 1945. He left active duty and joined the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve on January 12, 1946, and resumed his professional baseball career with the Boston Red Sox from 1946 to 1952. Capt Williams was recalled to active duty for the Korean War on May 2, 1952, and attended refresher pilot training at NAS Willow Grove, Pennsylvania, from May to June 1952. He then attended Attack Pilot Refresher Training with VMAT-20 at MCAS Cherry Point, North Carolina, from June to July 1952, followed by service as an F9F Panther pilot with VMF-223 at MCAS Cherry Point from July to December 1952. Capt Williams deployed to South Korea and served as an F9F Panther pilot in combat with VMF-311 at K-3 Airfield at Pohang from February 1953 until he returned to the United States in July 1953. He left active duty on July 31, 1953, and resigned his commission in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve on August 13, 1953. After leaving active duty, Williams again resumed his career with the Boston Red Sox, and played from 1953 until his retirement in 1960. He was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1966, and was manager of the Washington Senators/Texas Rangers baseball team from 1969 to 1972. Ted Williams was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President George H.W. Bush in 1991, and he Flew West on July 5, 2002. His body is in a permanent cryogenic state with Alcor Life Extension Foundation in Scottsdale, Arizona.

His 3rd Air Medal Citation reads:

For meritorious acts while participating in aerial flight against the enemy while attached to the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing in KOREA from 26 April 1953 to 17 May 1953. Captain WILLIAMS successfully completed his twenty-first through thirtieth missions against the enemy where enemy fire was either expected or received. His courageous actions and devotion to duty throughout were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.