“Among the men who fought on Iwo Jima, uncommon valor was a common virtue.”

Admiral Chester Nimitz

Seventy-nine years ago today, the Battle on Iwo Jima began. On the black volcanic sand of the island, 70,000 U.S. Marines took on 18,000 entrenched Japanese forces. Thirty-six days later, nearly 7,000 Marines had died and 20,000 were wounded. On February 23, a photo was taken of a flag raising. Today, we remember the iconic photo of the (2nd) flag raising on Mt. Suribachi. The U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial statue commemorating the flag raising is in Arlington, Virginia. Even if you have never met a U.S. Marine in your life, that statue will cause water to leak from your eyes.

U.S. Marines Lie where they fell on Iwo Jima 1945.

Greater love has no one than this; to lay down one's life for one's friends. John 15:13 pic.twitter.com/boo0R4xcnX

— ustonymc (@ustonymc) February 19, 2024

Eighty-two Medal of Honor recipients out of the 36 days of fierce fighting.

Of the 82 U.S. Marine Medal of Honor recipients during World War II, 27 were awarded at the battle of Iwo Jima, more than any battle in American history. Admiral Nimitz reflected on the incredible sacrifice by Marines on Iwo Jima by saying, "Uncommon valor was a common virtue." pic.twitter.com/aXLVC4M5Ql

— ustonymc (@ustonymc) February 19, 2024

One of those MOH recipients, from Iwo Jima, was Hershel “Woody” Williams who died nine months ago at the age of 98. One of the first years that I did the Mountain Man Memorial March in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, Mr. Woody was the keynote speaker the night before. He was so motivating. After ten minutes I was ready to go take any hill he told me to take. Even in his later years, the men were all glad to know Woody and, of course, the ladies all flirted with him.

Mr. Williams received his Medal of Honor at the White House from President Harry Truman in 1945. The MOH citation reads:

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.
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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.

He was humble but spirited. He bestowed his actual Medal of Honor to the crew of the Lewis B. Puller-class expeditionary mobile base (ESB) that bears his name Hershel “Woody” Williams. The DOD video, to the tune of “All Through The Night” will lift your spirits:

It occurred to me that as long as we have people like Woody and the sailors aboard his ship, we will have that “uncommon valor”. It is not the President or the lizards in Congress, it is the men and women who fight like Woody.

Like the other Marines on Iwo Jima 79 years ago today.

79 years ago today, Marines of the 4th Marine Division hug the loosely packed black volcanic sand mere moments before Japanese artillery and machine-gun fire erupts on Iwo Jima. pic.twitter.com/z5GfoazRz5

— J&L Historical (@Jason_R_Burt) February 19, 2024

Featured Image: trulygreenfish/flickr.com/cropped/Creative Commons