Hershel Woody Williams M O H W W I I - 27 mars 2020 Hershel Woodrow "Woody" Williams (born October 2, 1923) is a retired United States Marine Corps warrant officer and United States Department of Veterans Affairs veterans service representative who received the United States military's highest decoration for valorâthe Medal of Honorâfor heroism above and beyond the call of duty during the Battle of Iwo Jima in World War II. He and one other soldier are the only living Medal of Honor recipients from that war. In addition, he is the only surviving Marine to have received the Medal of Honor during the Second World War, and is the only surviving Medal of Honor recipient from the Pacific theater of the war.
Covered by only four riflemen, he fought 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. He returned to the front, frequently to the rear of hostile emplacements, to wipe out one position after another. At one point, a wisp of smoke alerted him to the air vent of a Japanese bunker, and he approached close enough to put the nozzle of his flamethrower through the hole, killing the occupants. On another occasion, he was charged by enemy riflemen who attempted to stop him with bayonets and he killed them with a burst of flame from his weapon.
Sent him 2 photos on 16 Mar and got them back signed on 27 Mar. He also included a flyer about his foundation.. The Hershel "Woody" Williams Medal of Honor Foundation..
Mr Hershel W. Williams
3450 Wire Branch Road
Ona, WV 25545 |