Flame Thrower, Iwo Jima Veteran, and The Last Living Marine Medal of Honor Recipient From WWII- Woody Williams- Dies At The Age of 98

Woody Williams' life was truly remarkable. When Dave hired me in 2016, I thought a majority of my time would be covering sports and dumb internet shit. I had no idea that I would get to host a show like Zero Blog 30. On that show, I've been able to interview some unreal people. I've gotten to talk to people who survived recent battles like the Battle of Danny Boy, the firefights and door-to-door nature of Fallujah, or the Korengal valley. 

When we started Zero Blog 30, I didn't consider some of the older veterans that I would be able to talk to. I've sat down with a guy like Stanley Rubin who also went to Iwo Jima and other parts of the Island Hopping campaign and listened to him recount his war without a breath for two hours. I got to spend an hour with Charlie Plumb, a navy pilot who was shot down on what should have been his last day in Vietnam and then spent 6.5 years in a prison camp- The Hanoi Hilton. For me though, my favorite conversation that I've had and the one that I will never forget is talking to Woody Williams. I'll repost that conversation below but I wanted to tell you a little background about what happened after the interview. 

I've known about Woody Williams for a long time. It goes back to boot camp for me. The last event at Marine Corps recruit training is called The Crucible. 

The Crucible consists of eight major training events: a day movement resupply, a combat assault course, a casualty evacuation, a reaction course, an unknown distance firing course, a night infiltration course, and a night march.

In addition, groups of would-be Marine complete ‘Warrior Stations,’ which are team-building obstacles aimed at teaching teamwork, small unit leadership, problem-solving, and adaptability.

Throughout the event, recruits are subject to food and sleep deprivation. While exhausted, the Drill Instructors and other cadre teach us about Marine Legends of the past. Woody Williams is 1A in that regard and for good reason. His citation for the Medal of Honor is breathtaking. If you've never read it, I'll include it at the bottom of this blog. 

Fast forward nearly 18 years later, I was sitting at my desk and had just finished up the interview with Mr. Willaims. I asked him if he had a few extra minutes. It was the height of Covid season so my kids were both home. I asked if they could come downstairs and meet him. His face lit up. "Of course. I'd be upset if you didn't."

Kelsie and McCartney came downstairs and they got to virtually meet Woody Williams. While Woody was on the line, I told them a little about what Woody had done. He stopped me from going into too much detail and then he told my kids that they were lucky to have me. Woody Williams, a giant amongst men, told my kids that I was a hero for my actions in combat. I teared up. He said, "I read a little about your dad and my staff has told me some about him. Your dad is a brave Marine too. It comes with the uniform."

Now, lip service or not (it was for sure), that's a moment I'll remember forever. If you would have told me when I was tired, brand new, and waiting to earn the title of Marine that one day, a legend in a room of legends, would call me a brave Marine, I would have thought you were crazy but that is before I knew Woody Williams. If you've never heard his story, you should get to know him too. 

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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 machinegun fire from the unyielding positions. Covered only by 4 riflemen, he fought desperately for 4 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 1 position after another. On 1 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 strong points encountered by his regiment and aided vitally in enabling his company to reach its objective.