Last WW II MoH recipient dies

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  • Lmo1131

    Sharpshooter
    Rating - 0%
    0   0   0
    Jan 11, 2020
    545
    93
    east of the Pacific
    Hershel Woodrow William, USMC

    Medal of Honor
    Date of Action: February 23, 1945
    Location of Action: 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.

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    KG1

    Forgotten Man
    Site Supporter
    Rating - 100%
    66   0   0
    Jan 20, 2009
    25,633
    149
    RIP Mr. Williams. I award you with the highest honor that I can give. My everlasting respect. You Sir have more than earned it. :patriot:
     

    Keith_Indy

    Master
    Rating - 95.2%
    20   1   0
    Mar 10, 2009
    3,213
    113
    Noblesville
    Really miss hearing the stories these guys would tell.

    You have to respect the F out of someone who will charge a machine gun nest with a flame thrower. And this guy did that over and over for four freaking hours. Master Race my ass. Home Grown American Badass Hero.

    Well thanks to many people, like Tom Hanks, Steven Spielberg and others, there was a concerted effort to get their stories recorded.

    Here's the channel I posted from above...

     
    Rating - 100%
    8   0   0
    Jan 18, 2009
    2,169
    113
    SE Indy
    He didn't earn a MOH but he did receive a purple heart after being hit in the leg by shrapnel while maning a 155mm Howitzer.Some of it he carried around the rest of his life. He fought in Italy Africa and Europe. Then went home and resumed life started a family held the same job for 40 plus years. Never complaining about the injuries that caused a permanent limp. In fact he said he would do it again in a minute.
    I'm not trying to hijack Mr Williams tribute. God bless men like him. If you had the luck of growing up with one of these guys as your Dad......Well I wouldn't trade it for anything.
     

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