Hershel Williams was a U.S. Marine who was awarded a Medal of Honor for his heroism in the Battle of Iwo Jima during World War II.
- Died: Wednesday, June 29, 2022 (Who else died on June 29?)
- Details of death: Died at the age of 98 in Huntington, West Virginia.
- We invite you to share condolences for Hershel Williams in our Guest Book.
Iwo Jima hero
Hershel Williams worked on his family’s dairy farm growing up in West Virginia. He enlisted in the Marines in 1943 and saw his first action in Guam. In early 1945, he was in the Battle of Iwo Jima with the Third Marine Division. When Marine armored vehicles could not advance against the Japanese forces, his commander asked him to take on a heroic mission. Armed with a flamethrower, Williams took out seven Japanese pillboxes while machine gun fire hit his weapon. He later was injured in the campaign but kept fighting until Iwo Jima was declared secured by the United States on March 26, 1945. He received the Medal of Honor from President Truman. After the war, he was a counselor for the Veterans Administration. At the time of his death, he was the oldest living recipient of the Medal of Honor and the last of the 472 servicemen who received the honor during World War II.
Notable Quote
“Suddenly, the Marines around me starting jumping up and down, firing their weapons in the air.” “My head was buried in the sand. Then I looked up and saw Old Glory on top of Mount Suribachi.” He told the Marine Corps History Division
Tributes to Hershel Williams
Full Obituary: New York Times
