World War II Medal of Honor recipient Hershel Woodrow "Woody" Williams (October 2, 1923 - June 29, 2022) was born on a farm in Quiet Dell, the youngest of 11 children of Lloyd and Lurenna Williams. Six of his siblings had died in the 1918 influenza epidemic. He grew up in Fairmont and, at 17, dropped out of high school and joined the Civilian Conservation Corps. After his 18th birthday, Williams sought to enlist in the Marine Corps but was rejected because at five feet six inches tall, he did not meet the height requirement. In May 1943, Williams enlisted after the height requirement was changed. Assigned to the Third Marine Division, he first experienced combat against the Japanese at Guam in the summer of 1944.

In February and March 1945, Williams distinguished himself during the Battle of Iwo Jima. On February 23, carrying a flamethrower half his weight, Williams neutralized seven concrete pillboxes from which came devastating machine gun fire. Aided by four riflemen who provided cover, Williams prepared demolition charges and destroyed one position after the other in a four-hour period. He returned five times to his headquarters to get refueled flamethrowers and demolition charges. This act of heroism earned Williams the Medal of Honor. On March 6, he suffered a shrapnel wound, which earned him a Purple Heart, but he remained on Iwo Jima until the battle for the island ended March 26. On October 5, 1945, President Truman awarded Williams the Medal of Honor in a ceremony at the White House.

After his discharge in November 1945, Williams served in the Marine Corps Reserve, retiring in 1969. From 1946 to 1979, he was a counselor with the Veterans Administration, working with veterans from West Virginia. In October 1945, he married Ruby Meredith, and they had two daughters. Williams was a lay speaker for the Methodist Church and served as the national chaplain of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society. For 30 years, he ran a boarding and training barn for horses in Cabell County. He also remained active, talking to church, youth, and veterans' groups. Ruby Williams died in 2007. In 2010 he created the Woody Williams Foundation to work with Gold Star Families nationally. On January 14, 2016, the Navy named an Expeditionary Sea Base ship the USNS Hershel Woody Williams. In June 2018, the Veterans Administration hospital in Huntington was renamed the Hershel “Woody” Williams VA Medical Center. He was receiving care at the medical center when he died. Woody Williams, the last living Medal of Honor recipient from World War II, was 98 years old.

On October 2, 2023, marking the 100th anniversary of his birth, the Woody Williams Gold Star Families Memorial Monument was unveiled at Huntington’s Memorial Park, near the Memorial Arch, dedicated in 1929 to soldiers who fought in World War I.

Hershel Woodrow Williams Medal of Honor citation

• Rank: Corporal
• Organization: U.S. Marine Corps
• Division: 21st Marines, 3d Marine Division
• Place / Date: Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands, 23 February 1945

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 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 machinegun fire from the unyielding positions. Covered only by 4 riflemen, he fought desperately for 4 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 1 position after another. On 1 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 strong points 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.

Source: Congressional Medal of Honor Society

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