Williams honored at U.S. Capitol

by John M. Galer

The last Medal of Honor recipient from World War II, Herschel "Woody" Williams, lay in honor at the U.S. Capitol Rotunda Thursday, July 14.

A congressional tribute to Williams took place following a ceremonial arrival. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other congressional leaders participated in the tribute. His flag-draped casket was viewed following the tribute.

A wreath-laying ceremony was held to honor Williams at the World War II Memorial in the Capitol Mall. Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia, a friend of Woody and senator from his home state, gave the tribute.

"Only 37 people have ever lain in state in this way," Sen. Manchin said. "It's unbelievable to have accomplished this mission of honoring Woody Williams at the U.S. Capitol. Woody always said, 'It's not about me; it's about honoring those we left behind.'

"Woody was a giant in character, and a giant in presence when you were around him–a giant in patriotism and his love of this country," Manchin said.

Dr. Danny Reeves is secretary of the State Funeral for World War II Veterans, a nationwide group which organized a bipartisan and very challenging effort to see the last Medal of Honor recipient of World War II be granted a state funeral at the U.S. Capitol as a last tribute to what Tom Brokaw has called "the greatest generation" and its 16 million men and women who served to protect freedom around the world in the U.S. armed forces from 1941-1945.

Williams was born in 1923 and grew up in West Virginia. He joined the United States Marine Corps and served in the Battle of Iwo Jima with the 21st Marines, 3rd Marine Division, and received the Medal of Honor on Oct. 5, 1945, from President Harry S. Truman.

Following his service in World War II, Williams worked to serve veterans and their families as a Veterans Service Representative for the Department of Veterans Affairs for 33 years. He also served as the commandant for the Veterans Nursing Home in Barboursville, West Virginia, for almost 10 years, and has served on the Governor's Military Advisory Board for West Virginia.

Williams founded the Woody Williams Foundation, a non-profit organization that establishes Gold Star Families Memorial Monuments and conducts outreach programs for Gold Star families.

The idea for a state funeral for the last Medal of Honor hero from World War II came from a junior high student, Rabel McNutt of Texas. Her father Bill was instrumental in organizing the group which has worked since 2017 to make a state funeral possible for the last Medal of Honor recipient of World War II. Rabel placed the wreath at the World War II Memorial ceremony.

Twenty-six of the board members and state chairman for the group made the trip to Washington to attend the ceremonies. They included: James Baehr, Lousiana; John Digilio Jr., New York; John M. Galer, Illinois; Joe Griffies, New Jersey; Gregory Hamer, Louisiana; Patrick Hughes, Pennsylvania; Morris Kahn, Louisiana; Donavon and Doni Loeslie, Minnesota; Jim McCloughan, Michigan; Bill and Susana McNutt, and daughters Slone and Rabel, Texas; Scott Mexic, Virginia; Gary Murad, Massachusetts; Duayne Norman, Virginia; Ron Ramseyer, Massachusetts; Dr. Danny Reeves, Texas; Charles and Beth Sell, Tennesee; Don Tempesta New Jersey; Elliott Warren, Virginia; Dave Woodward and wife, Vermont; and Glenn Yarborough, Virginia.

Ron Ramsmeyer, CEO of the organization, expressed the thoughts of the group stating, "This was an experience of a lifetime."