Last WW2 Medal of Honor Recipient Dies

[richmondred01 2,237]

Hershel W. “Woody” Williams, the last remaining Medal of Honor recipient from World War II, died Wednesday. He was 98.

Men like him made it possible for us to be pursue happiness and live free.

I just hope that their memories and sacrifices won’t be lost to revisionist history.

[SylvanLakeWH 25,576]

Well said. 

 

[oliver2-44 9,756]

[formariz 11,987]

1 hour ago, richmondred01 said:

I just hope that their memories and sacrifices won’t be lost to revisionist history.

   If that happens then we just do not deserve what they did for us for we can no longer then recognize honor and sacrifice, and their example will not be repeated when that need surfaces  again. And surface it will.

[Snoopy11 5,714]

1 hour ago, richmondred01 said:

Men like him made it possible for us to be pursue happiness and live free.

Sir yes sir. Exactly right.

 

Thank-you for sharing sir.

 

 

Don

[1mor Project 78]

DETAILS

• ALSO KNOWN AS: WILLIAMS, WOODY
• RANK: CORPORAL (HIGHEST RANK: CHIEF WARRANT OFFICER FOUR)
• CONFLICT/ERA: WORLD WAR II
• UNIT/COMMAND:
  HEADQUARTERS COMPANY, 1ST BATTALION, 21ST MARINES,
  3D MARINE DIVISION
• MILITARY SERVICE BRANCH: U.S. MARINE CORPS RESERVE
• MEDAL OF HONOR ACTION DATE: FEBRUARY 23, 1945
• MEDAL OF HONOR ACTION PLACE: IWO JIMA, VOLCANO ISLANDS

 

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 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.

[richmondred01 2,237]

Those of us who are baby boomers squandered our inheritance.

 

[953 nut 55,259]

7 hours ago, richmondred01 said:

Men like him made it possible for us to be pursue happiness and live free.

I just hope that their memories and sacrifices won’t be lost to revisionist history.

Tom Brokaw was credited with the term "The Greatest Generation" and I certainly agree. They grew up in the Depression, fought to end tyranny and preserve freedom in WW2 and turned these hardships into the prosperity and power that we Americans and many free countries enjoy today. Most of these special people are gone. The sad truth is that their heroic efforts are being written out of history because so many liberal writers feel that this was barbaric and shouldn't be celebrated.

Without people like CWO4 Woody Williams and the millions of other Allied forces that prevailed in WW2 the liberals wouldn't have the freedom to defile history and wouldn't dare demonstrate their objection to anything yet they don't seem to realize that, so sad.

[Beap52 811]

We lived in the Philippines for 15 years.  It seems every town has a MacArthur Street or Avenue. On the Island of Leyte there is a Memorial to MacArthur and Wainwright honoring their return to the Philippines. Corregidor Island is in the Manila bay. It was a small tadpole shaped island that was an American military base before WWII using guns from the 1920's.  Unfortunately, it was built to defend against ships and pretty much defenseless against airplanes.  I took several trips there and it is very humbling and sobering place to visit. The Philippinos have done a great job keeping it as an important piece of history. 

 

One of our Philipino pastors served in World War II.  He has a small "shoe shop" in the City of Davao that was used to pass information to from the locals to American soldiers. A local scout would bring in a pair of shoes that contained a note and another would pick it up to get into American hands. Pastor Celso Navalis was an interesting gentleman to spend time with.  He like many of his generation have passed on. 

 

For a couple of years, our place of ministry, (we were missionaries) took us down the road that basically went where the Bataan Death March went. Along the road are small parks or pull-offs that have bill boards showing the interaction of different countries.  The Japanese would have bill board signs showing their troop movements then further down the road Americans would show our troops movements.  Interesting to say the least  There is a huge cross with some 400 steps leading to the cross arms where folks can climb up and from windows on the sides of the cross arms overlook Corregidor island then back to Bataan and the small mountains of the death march.

 

God has Blessed America and I hope we appreciate what He has given us.