Memorial Service for Medal of Honor Recipient Hershel "Woody" Williams

On Friday, July 1 at 10:30 a.m., Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum and the Congressional Medal of Honor Society will host a memorial service for Hershel “Woody” Williams, the last living World War II Medal of Honor (MOH) Recipient. Williams passed away Wednesday, June 29, in Huntington, West Virginia, at 98.

The ceremony will take place in front of the Gold Star Families Memorial Monument landside of the USS Yorktown and is free to attend. Parking is also free from 10 to 10:30 a.m.

Williams will have a lasting connection to the State of South Carolina and Patriots Point through the Gold Star Families Memorial. The Woody Williams Foundation built the monument to recognize and honor South Carolina Gold Star families. A Gold Star Family has sacrificed a loved one to support America’s freedom in times of conflict since World War I. Williams spoke at the dedication ceremony in 2018.

South Carolina is also home to the headquarters of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, which is the membership organization of living Medal of Honor Recipients and the caretaker of the legacies of all 3,511 Medal of Honor Recipients. Recipient Williams served as the long-time Chaplain of the Society.

“Every year, hundreds of thousands of people stop at the memorial to learn how the ultimate sacrifices made by our nation’s heroes affect their loved ones,” said Patriots Point Interim Executive Director Mac Burdette. “Woody’s valor and heroism during World War II is an inspiration; his commitment to support Gold Star Families will have an impact for generations.”

The memorial ceremony will include remarks from Congressional Medal of Honor Society Executive Vice President John Falkenbury. It will conclude with the playing of TAPS.

Visit https://www.cmohs.org/recipients/hershel-woodrow-woody-williams to view Williams’ official MOH citation.