Hershel Woodrow “Woody” Williams, 71 years ago

71 years ago yesterday, Marine Corporal Hershel Woodrow “Woody” Williams, pretty much all by himself under the covering fire of four infantrymen battled with the Japanese on Iwo Jima for four long grueling hours. He tried to clear a path for tanks to get past a number of “pillboxes” while the diminutive Corporal (he’d initially been rejected by the Marines for being too short at 5’6″) was armed only with a flamethrower. You can hear him tell the story in this video;

His Medal of Honor citation reads;

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.

“Woody” has made his life’s work remembering the folks who didn’t return from war with his Hershel Woody Williams Medal of Honor Foundation and for that work, Eagle Rare Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey has named him the 2016 Grand Prize winner of the 2016 Rare Life Award. The title comes with a $50,000 donation to his foundation which erects Gold Star memorials across the country.

Of the 27 Marines and Sailors who earned Medals of Honor on Iwo Jima, only “Woody” remains with us. Did I mention that he’s from here in West Virginia? Well, he is.

Category: Marine Corps