On February 23, 1945, a 21-year-old Marine corporal, Hershel Woodrow “Woody” Williams, watched from the bloody beaches of Iwo Jima as our flag was raised atop Mount Suribachi, immortalized by the sculpture at the Marine Corps Memorial.

For his heroic actions on that same day, Williams became one of 27 Iwo Jima Marines and sailors to receive the Medal of Honor — our nation’s highest military award for valor — “For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty…” It was the bloodiest battle in Marine Corps history in which 7,000 Americans perished.

Williams, who was a very humble man and welcomed anyone to address him as “Woody,” was one of 472 World War II recipients of the Medal of Honor. He was the last living WWII recipient until his death this week at age 98 in his beloved home state of West Virginia.

Woody was the youngest of seven children born into a hard-working farming family, and, at just 3.5 pounds at birth in 1923, he was not expected to survive. Thank God he did. He wanted to enlist in the Marine Corps after the “Japs” attacked Pearl Harbor, but given that his low birth weight hindered his adult stature, he did not meet the 5'6" minimum height requirement. But the Corps reduced that restriction in 1943 and Woody was in.

He trained in San Diego as an infantryman on the use of flamethrowers. At the time, this weapon was one of the most effective means of extracting Japanese fighters from their cavern entrenchments on Pacific islands. It was a heavy and cumbersome backpack device with three tanks, two for a mixture of diesel fuel and aviation gas and the third for compressed air. And if an enemy bullet pierced the tanks, it meant certain death for its bearer.

His first combat trials were with Company C, 1st Battalion, 21st Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division at Guadalcanal. He then served at the Battle of Guam in 1944 and in 1945 landed on the grainy volcanic sand of Iwo Jima, where he was charged with clearing enemy pill boxes.

His full Medal of Honor citation outlines the extraordinary actions of this man.

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as demolition sergeant serving with the 21st Marines, 3d Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands, 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, Cpl. 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 flamethrowers, 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 flamethrower through the air vent, killing the occupants, and silencing 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 strongpoints encountered by his regiment and aided vitally in enabling his company to reach its objective. Cpl. Williams’ aggressive fighting spirit and valiant devotion to duty throughout this fiercely contested action sustain and enhance the highest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service.

Like all recipients, he was an ordinary individual who demonstrated extraordinary acts of valor when confronted with circumstances that called him to put the lives of others above his own.

After the war, Woody remained with the Marine Corps Reserve’s 25th Infantry Company, and his final rank was Chief Warrant Officer 4. He spent 33 years as a counselor with Veterans Affairs. He was a devoted Christian and served as the chaplain for the Congressional Medal of Honor Society for 35 years. He also headed the Woody Williams Foundation, supporting the establishment of permanent Gold Star Families Memorial Monuments in communities across our nation and providing Living Legacy scholarships to the children of fallen Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines.

Like all recipients, Woody considered himself only a “caretaker” of the medal, and he wore it in honor of all others who served.

The last time we crossed paths was in April of last year at a memorial service for his friend, Charles Coolidge, the last living WWII European Theater Medal of Honor recipient. They were both proud members of the National Medal of Honor Heritage Center in Chattanooga, Tennessee, the birthplace of the medal.

The image that remains seared into my memory is that of Woody standing quietly alone in a private moment over the casket of Mr. Coolidge, saying goodbye. Given his stature, I am reminded of another small man who became a giant among recipients, Desmond Doss.

Of his Greatest Generation, Woody said: “I feel that our upbringing had some influence on our bravery because we were taught in the Depression years, if you didn’t have it, you had to make it. And the only way you could make it was to work at it. Our upbringing gave us the confidence that developed into bravery.”

In 2020, the Navy christened the USS Hershel “Woody” Williams in honor of his service. Of that commission he declared: “May all those who serve aboard this ship that will bear my name be safe and be proud. And may she have God’s blessings for a long life of service to the greatest country on earth.”

The remaining 63 living Medal of Honor recipients issued a statement, closing with, “Semper Fi and Godspeed, Woody.” Indeed.

West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin announced that Woody will be honored by lying in state in our nation’s Capitol building in starting 14 July.

His wife of 62 years preceded him in death in 2007. He is survived by his two daughters and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

(Visit the National Medal of Honor Heritage Center website.)

Semper Vigilans Fortis Paratus et Fidelis
Pro Deo et Libertate — 1776

---

“Greater love has no one than this, to lay down one’s life for his friends.” (John 15:13)

Join us in daily prayer for our Patriots in uniform — Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen — standing in harm’s way in defense of American Liberty, and for Veterans, First Responders, and their families. Please consider a designated gift to support the National Medal of Honor Sustaining Fund through Patriot Foundation Trust, or make a check payable to “NMoH Sustaining Fund” and mail it to:

Patriot Foundation Trust
PO Box 407
Chattanooga, TN 37401-0407

The Patriot Post and our Patriot Foundation Trust are proud sponsors of the National Medal of Honor Heritage Center, the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, Folds of Honor, Honoring the Sacrifice, Warrior Freedom Service Dogs, Officer Christian Fellowship, the Air University Foundation, the Naval War College Foundation, and the Naval Aviation Museum Foundation.