Ludwig was born in 1845 in Oslo, Norway, and he enlisted the US Navy as Louis Williams. His actions, twice earned him the Medal of Honor during peace time. The citations read:

First Award

For jumping overboard from the U.S.S. Lackawanna, 16 March 1883, at Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii, and rescuing from drowning Thomas Moran, landsman.

Second Award

Serving on board the U.S.S. Lackawanna, Williams rescued from drowning William Cruise, who had fallen overboard at Callao, Peru, 13 June 1884.

Ludwig is one of only fourteen double recipients to receive the Medals for separate actions and both were issued to him under his enlistment name on the 18th of October, 1884. Ludwig Andreas Olsen died on the 20th of February, 1886, and is buried in the Cypress Hills National Cemetery in Brooklyn, New York: Section 6, Grave 12616. His grave stone has the name Louis Williams engraved on it.