DOORSTEPS of HELL
Early Life & Family
Tom Williams’s story begins with hardship. Abandoned by his biological father at age six, his life changed when his mother married U.S. Air Force Major Carl F. Williams Jr. From that moment forward, Tom’s world expanded — traveling overseas, learning languages, studying Ancient Roman history and archaeology, and absorbing cultures from France to the Middle East. These early experiences shaped the curiosity, resilience, and discipline that would later define his military career.
Becoming a Marine
Settling on the family farm in Georgia, Tom set his sights on a life of service. He attended North Georgia College before entering Marine Corps Officer Candidate School at Quantico, Virginia. There, he excelled — graduating Platoon Honor Man, setting the Marine Corps O-Course record of 52 seconds, and ranking in the top 10% of his Basic School class. These achievements set the foundation for the leadership he would bring to Vietnam.
Vietnam Service
As a young infantry officer, Tom deployed to Vietnam in 1969–70. He commanded an infantry platoon with Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines, followed by leading a reconnaissance platoon in Alpha Company, 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division. Each day in combat, he recorded the events in his diary — a disciplined ritual that captured the brutal realities of America’s most controversial war. These firsthand accounts provide the raw material for Doorsteps of Hell.
Why This Book Matters
Doorsteps of Hell is more than a personal memoir. It is a vivid, unembellished account of Vietnam — mud-sucking paddies, leech-infested jungles, camaraderie under fire, and the lessons of leadership when lives are at stake. It is Tom’s story, but also the story