Rest in Peace…

Hershel (Woody) Williams died yesterday.

He was the last WWII Medal of Honor winner.

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — World War II hero and Medal of Honor recipient Hershel “Woody” Williams died Wednesday morning at the VA hospital near Huntington named in his honor. Williams was 98.

The Woody Williams Family Foundation posted a message Tuesday indicating the West Virginia native was in his last days. The foundation said he died at 3:15 a.m. Wednesday surrounded by family members.

Full article HERE from WVA Metro News.

A little guy, he was only 5’2″, originally too short to enlist. Later, the Marines took him willingly. Then came Iwo Jima…

A light blue neck ribbon with a gold star shaped medallion hanging from it. The ribbon is similar in shape to a bowtie with 13 white stars in the center of the ribbon.
The President of the United States in the name of The Congress takes pleasure in presenting the
MEDAL OF HONOR
to
CORPORAL HERSHEL W. WILLIAMS
UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS RESERVE
for service as set forth in the following CITATION:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as Demolition Sergeant serving with the First Battalion, Twenty-First Marines, Third Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Iwo Jima, Volcano Island, 23 February 1945. Quick to volunteer his services when our tanks were maneuvering vainly to open a lane for the infantry through the network of reinforced concrete pillboxes, buried mines and black, volcanic sands, Corporal Williams daringly went forward alone to attempt the reduction of devastating machine-gun fire from the unyielding positions. Covered only by four riflemen, he fought desperately for four hours under terrific enemy small-arms fire and repeatedly returned to his own lines to prepare demolition charges and obtain serviced flame throwers, struggling back, frequently to the rear of hostile emplacements, to wipe out one position after another. On one occasion he daringly mounted a pillbox to insert the nozzle of his flame thrower through the air vent, kill the occupants and silence the gun; on another he grimly charged enemy riflemen who attempted to stop him with bayonets and destroyed them with a burst of flame from his weapon. His unyielding determination and extraordinary heroism in the face of ruthless enemy resistance were directly instrumental in neutralizing one of the most fanatically defended Japanese strong points encountered by his regiment and aided in enabling his company to reach its’ [sic] objective. Corporal Williams’ aggressive fighting spirit and valiant devotion to duty throughout this fiercely contested action sustain and enhance the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

/S/ HARRY S. TRUMAN
Rest in peace sir! There are many who have stepped up to take the watch for you.

Comments

Rest in Peace… — 8 Comments

  1. A salute to this gallant man! Raise a toast in silence to his memory. God bless him and give him peace in Eternity.

    (Excuse me, the room must be a little dusty.)

  2. This is a sad example of the passing of “The Greatest Generation”. He was 1 of 472 recipients of the medal of honor from World War 2.

  3. Those who’ve received the Medal nearly always object to bring referred to as “winners”

  4. Then there is this from a totally worthless human being.

    Nancy Pelosi ignores resolution to allow last surviving WWII Medal of Honor recipient to lie in honor at US Capitol

    The resolution was for Woody.