Hershel "Woody" Williams, who died on Wednesday at the age of 98 as the last living recipient of a World War II Medal of Honor, was one of the most well-known veterans, yet he spent most of his time being a cheerleader for others.
Ron Wroblewski, the president of the Vietnam Veterans of America Tri-State Chapter 949 and a Marine veteran himself, has known Williams for 50 years.
“That was one of the things that he talked about. Patriotism and being proud of where you’re from, and I think those are the things that will be carried on by Woody’s legacy," he said.
Wroblewski said there will never be another like him.
“He’s unique. I mean, he is a national hero," he said.
He said he could go on forever about the memories he has of Williams. However, the one that always comes to mind is when he first approached Williams about having a ship named after him.
“First thing he said to me was: 'I ain’t dead yet.' And I explained to him that: 'Yes, we’ve done our research and they will name ships after living people,' so he said, 'Sure, you go ahead and do that.' Took us 18 years but we finally got the ship named in his honor," Wroblewski said.
While he is often remembered for what he did on the battlefield, Williams is also remembered for what he did back home, advocating for veterans and their well-being.
James McCorkmick, the national executive director for Vets4Vet Leadership, has known him for years and said Williams was a mentor to him and so many other veterans.
“I remember he said this one time. He said, 'Aren’t we all that stood up when our country called us - are we not all part of that generation’s greatest?' I’ll never forget him saying that. And he said it to a bunch of Vietnam veterans and you could just watch the pride swell up in these guys," McCormick said.
McCormick met Williams through advocacy work. McCormick, a decorated Army veteran dealing with his own PTSD, leaned on Williams for support and guidance.
“It’s sad because we are not just losing an American treasure but the best friend that veterans had, not just in West Virginia but in America,' McCormick said. "And so much so, a month before he died he sends me an envelope titled 'Things for Jim to Do.'”
His friends and fellow veterans say while they grieve they continue to feel the call to continue on with his great works.
“World War II veterans - there are still quite a few of those around, but he’s the last Medal of Honor [recipient], and that’s significant," Wroblewski said. "That's significant when you think about it. I mean they’re gone. Unless they tell you their stories, those stories are gone. Luckily for us, Woody’s been out there telling his story."