HUNTINGTON, WV ( WOWK) Medal of Honor Recipient and World War II Veteran Hershel "Woody" Williams, 98, died on Wednesday. Are you adding a grave photo that will fulfill this request? Learn about how to make the most of a memorial. On February 21, 1945, Williams and the rest of the 3rd Marine Division landed on Iwo Jima. (File photo) UPDATE: Funeral services for Williams will be held at 4 p.m . I was just the guy who was trained to do the flamethrower.. I decided I did not want to be in that thing. 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.. He died June 29 in Huntington, W.Va., at 98 years old.. This flower has been reported and will not be visible while under review. Hershel "Woody" Williams VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars) Post 7048 in Fairmont, West Virginia; 1310 Morgantown Ave. Fairmont WV 26554. On the same day, he became a witness to history, observing the raising of the flag on Mount Suribachi, a moment made famous by photographer Joe Rosenthal. We'd love to hear eyewitness Hershel "Woody" Williams - America's last living Medal of Honor winner from WWII - had died at the age of 98. [7][16] He was the last surviving Medal of Honor recipient from World War II. Family and friends are welcome to leave their condolences on this memorial page and share them with the family. Monument Outreach Education. A year later, the Marines allowed him in at age 19. Threats of harming another Photos larger than 8Mb will be reduced. accounts, the history behind an article. that is degrading to another person. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate, or jump to a slide with the slide dots. Found more than one record for entered Email, You need to confirm this account before you can sign in. Aside from the appearance of the uniform, Williams knew nothing of the Marines. WAYNE COUNTY, W.Va. (WSAZ) - Medal of Honor recipient Hershel "Woody" Williams has passed away. Williams, the last living. "Don't close the gate at 98!" Williams says. {{slideInfo.slideCaption}}. Williams was the last living Medal of Honor recipient from World War II. Family members linked to this person will appear here. Hershel W. "Woody" Williams was a 21-year-old Marine Corps corporal when he watched from the bloodied, ashy beaches of Iwo Jima as the Stars and Stripes rose atop Mount Suribachi on Feb. 23, 1945. Help us tell more heroes' stories and preserve the legacy of our Veterans. Echovita offers a solidarity program that gives back the funds generated to families. Your Scrapbook is currently empty. How famous was Hershel Woodrow "Woody" Williams? Williams was the last surviving World War II recipient of the Medal of Honor, the nation's highest award for valor. Williams actions in battle to clear the way for American tanks and infantry are detailed on the U.S. militarys Medal of Honor website. Naval Forces Europe-Africa area of responsibility in support of maritime missions and special operations. Hershel "Woody" Williams was 98. By the time he was 11, his father, Lloyd, had died of a heart attack and several of his siblings had died due to the Spanish flu. Born in 1923, he would've turned 100 years old next year. Hershel "Woody" Williams, the last living WWII Medal of Honor recipient, died on Wednesday at the age of 98. [6], Williams was assigned to the 32nd Replacement Battalion on October 30, 1943, and left for New Caledonia in the southwest Pacific on December 3 aboard the M.S. 504-528-1944, Jenny Craig Institute for the Study of War and Democracy, Richard C.Adkerson & Freeport-McMoRanFoundation, Technician Lewis Hall and Sergeant William Fournier, Kenneth Gruennert and Elmer Burrs Medals of Honor, Commemorating Filipino American History Month, Alexander A. Vandegrift Before Guadalcanal, Call for Action and Liberation in the Philippines, Survival, Resistance, and Escape on Palawan, Dispose of Them: Massacre of American POWs in the Philippines. You can always change this later in your Account settings. In this role, he was selected to perform the official coin toss. [9] 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, fire and kill the occupants. President Harry Truman congratulates Hershel "Woody" Williams, a Marine Corps reservist, on receiving the Medal of Honor for his actions during the battle of Iwo Jima. https://woodywilliams.org/donation-opportunities.html, WV businesswomen see company gain national recognition, January indictments in Cabell County released, Police roundup: One dead in Huntington shooting, Cabell sheriff gives update on dash, body cams initiative, WV trooper faces domestic battery, strangulation charges, Costs increasing for Nucor's planned steel mill in Mason County, Lovely a good-looking player for South Point, Photos: At Last! We're an innovative care center within the Veterans Integrated Service Network 5 (VISN 5), which includes medical centers and clinics in Maryland, Ohio, Virginia, West Virginia, and Washington, D.C. . Woody Williams will lie in state in the Capitol Rotunda from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, July 3. Echovita Inc is a registered trademark. - [6][9][10][12], Covered by only four riflemen, he fought for four hours under intense enemy small-arms fire and repeatedly returned to his own lines to prepare demolition charges and obtain serviced flame throwers. Gusty winds and small hail are possible. Include gps location with grave photos where possible. Later that year, at age 22, Williams received the Medal of Honor, the nations highest award for military valor, from President Harry Truman at the White House. Your purchase was successful, and you are now logged in. The email does not appear to be a valid email address. Following his return stateside the following autumn, Williams, along with thirteen others, was bestowed the Medal of Honor by President Harry S. Truman. We will review the memorials and decide if they should be merged. "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. A system error has occurred. Upon completion of training, Williams was deployed to the Pacific Theatre, landing in the Melanesian Archipelago in the autumn of 1943. KAREN L. STARK, 82 of Huntington, died February 27, 2023, in Emogene Dolin Jones Hospice Hou, KAREN L. STARK, 82 of Huntington, sister of Judith A. Conard of Huntington, died Feb. 27 in , LEIGHTON THOMPSON "TOM" LILLY, 81, went to be with the Lord on February 23, 2023, in St. Mar, JEFFREY "JEFFY" DOUGLAS JAMES JR., of Salt Rock, W.Va., passed away on February 22, 2023. "And the only way you could make it was to work at it. The . CLARKSBURG, W.Va. - West Virginia hero and Marion County native Hershel "Woody" Williams is now the last living Medal of Honor recipient from World War II. He was 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. In October, he rejoined Company C.[9][11], Williams' next and final campaign was at the Battle of Iwo Jima, where he distinguished himself with actions "above and beyond the call of duty", for which he would be awarded the Medal of Honor. [9], Pinned down by machine-gun fire, his company commander asked one of his men to attach a high explosive charge to a pole and, supported by Williams, his flamethrower and several Marine riflemen, shoved the improvised weapon into an opening in the enemy's pillbox. Would you like to offer Hershel Williamss loved ones a condolence message? Thanks for your help! Authorize the publication of the original written obituary with the accompanying photo. During Super Bowl LII, Williams was honored to represent the countless veterans to whom the game was dedicated. (Joe Gromelski/Stars and Stripes) [9], On October 20, 1954, he joined the Organized Marine Reserve when the 98th Special Infantry Company was authorized by Headquarters Marine Corps to be located at Clarksburg, West Virginia. Woody Williams, the lifelong advocate for veterans and veterans' issues, will make his appearance along the way. In 1999, he was added to the City of Huntington Foundation's "Wall of Fame". Hershel Woodrow "Woody" Williams has died at the age of 98, but was preceded in death by his wife Ruby. . After all others in the entourage had been wounded by enemy fire, Williams managed to use the flamethrower to destroy the enemy instillation and all soldiers within it. This memorial has been copied to your clipboard. Two days later, on February 23the same day as the flag-raising on Mount Suribachi Williams, with the help of four other Marines, engaged several Japanese pillboxes with his flamethrower, in an action that lasted over four hours. He was 98 years old. Chance of rain 90%.. Showers and thundershowers early, then mainly cloudy after midnight with light rain possible. Incredibly, a handful of American POWs managed to survive the Palawan massacre and with the aid of Filipino guerrillas reached safety. Woody served as ademolition sergeant. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. The mural provides a lasting tribute to families who have lost a loved one in the service of the nations military and was made possible by a generous gift from Williams's Foundation. Before enlisting in the Marine Corps, Williams drove a taxi and then a truck for a construction . Woody Williams Obituary, Funeral, Burial, Memorial Service. The son of dairy farmers from Quiet Dell, West Virginia, Williams received the medal for his heroic actionsin the Battle of Iwo Jima. [2], Williams, the youngest of eleven children, was born in Quiet Dell in Marion County, West Virginia,[1] southeast of Fairmont, on October 2, 1923, and raised on a dairy farm in the area. Quickly see who the memorial is for and when they lived and died and where they are buried. He was designated the Mobilization Officer for the 25th Infantry Company and surrounding Huntington area on June 11, 1963. Weve updated the security on the site. Failed to remove flower. [6], In 1965, Williams received West Virginia's Distinguished Service Medal. When Pearl Harbor was attacked, he was working in Montana as a Civilian Conservation Corps enrollee. Published: Jun. The other remaining recipient, Army Sgt. Yes. The funeral service will begin at 4 p.m. Sunday at the Culture Center in the State Capitol Complex. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. 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