Biography of HERSHEL "WOODY" WILLIAMS

Hershel "Woody" Williams was born on October 2, 1923 in Quiet Dell, Marion Co., West Virginia. Woody is married to Ruby Dale Meredith of Fairmont, WV, and has two children, daughters: Travie Jane and Tracie Jean. He also has five grandsons, one of which served in Desert Storm.

He is a Retired Commandant of the W.Va. Veterans Home at Barboursville, WV. He was appointed as the first Commandant in 1980 and served until June 1985. Also retired as Veterans Services Officer, United States Veterans Administration, January 1978 after 33 years of serving veterans.

Having served in United States Marines from May 27, 1943 to November 6, 1945, Woody was in combat on Guam and Iwo Jima. Wounded March 6, 1945 on Iwo Jima, he received the Purple Heart.  On October 5, 1945 at Washington, D.C. he was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor by Harry S. Truman, President of the United States, for action on Iwo Jima.  Mr. Williams belongs to all major veterans groups and holds the position of National Chaplain of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society of the United States.

Mr. Williams retired as commissioned warrant officer of the Marine Corps.  He received West Virginia's Distinguished Service Medal in 1965 and the Veteran's Administration Vietnam Service Medal in 1967 for service as a civilian counselor to the armed forces. The WV National Guard Armory at Fairmont, WV; a bridge at Barboursville, WV; and an athletic field at Huntington, WV are named in his honor. He was inducted into the City of Huntington's "Wall of Fame" in 1999.

For the past 27 years, Mr. Williams has operated a boarding and training barn for horses at Ona, WV with his wife, Ruby, and his grandson Todd Lee Graham.  He is a lay minister in his church and is very active in his community and various veterans organizations. Woody Williams has several speaking engagements across the United States throughout the year. Mr. Williams is a past National Chaplain of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society. By clicking on the Listen to Speeches link, you can watch and listen as he recounts his history, as well as motivating others.