Tag Archive for: Rosie the Riveter

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Medal of Honor Recipient “Woody” Williams Keynotes ALMBS Veterans Appreciation Assembly

Hershel “Woody” Williams was born on a dairy farm in 1923 in Quiet Dell, West Virginia. He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and served in the Battle of Iwo Jima with the 21st Marines, 3d Marine Division. During the battle, Mr. Williams displayed “valiant devotion to duty” and service above self as he “enabled his company to reach its objective”. Mr. Williams’ actions, commitment to his fellow service members, and heroism were recognized on October 5, 1945, when he received the Congressional Medal of Honor from President Truman at the White House. Mr. Williams is the sole surviving Marine from WWII, to wear the Medal of Honor.

Medal of Honor Citation

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 machine gun 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. 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.

Rank: Corporal
Organization: U.S. Marine Corps
Division: 21st Marines, 3d Marine Division
Born: 2 October 1923, Quiet Dell, W. Va.
Entered Service At: West Virginia
Date of Issue: 10/05/1945
Accredited To: West Virginia
Place / Date: Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands, 23 February 1945

For more information:

Hershel “Woody” Williams – http://hwwmohf.org
Rosie the Riveters – https://www.thanksplainandsimple.org/
The American Legion Department of West Virginia – http://wvlegion.org
Sons of The American Legion Detachment of West Virginia – http://wvsal.org
The American Legion Auxiliary Department of West Virginia – http://wvaux.org

Also speaking at the Evening Assembly

Rosie Ruby Coberly

Rosie Ruby Coberly

Bill Combs

Bill Combs

Matt Bland

Matt Bland

Rhonda Best

Rhonda Best

 

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Guns or Roses? Women in the Work and Military Forces

 

We’ve all seen them, the iconic and commanding images of a woman clad in anything but traditional, WWII period garb, rebelling by flexing her arm in resistance to the mechanical, German army and maybe even privately to American men, as well.  This celebrated image is of “Rosie the Riveter”, a stubborn symbol of the woman who can work to support herself, “her man” at war, and the rest of her family, too.

According to History.com, American women “entered the workforce in unprecedented numbers during World War II, as widespread male enlistment left gaping holes in the industrial labor force.”  From the perspective of women in the late thirties and early forties and from that of women today, perhaps the rise of the Germans served them positively.  Had they not had the chance to show the men in control that they really could “do it”, they would likely not have been given the privilege to “do it” again.  After women successfully served as a dovetail to what was previously a jagged line of industrial occupation, they marched on to join the men in America’s fight for freedom.  Yes, woman served as vital contributions to our forces in the fight against Germany.

History.com explains that “some 350,000 women joined the Armed Services,” and that “the aviation industry saw the greatest increase in female workers.”  This was possible not only because women had verified their competence in the field of industry, but also because America’s leaders were “impressed by the British use of women in service.”  After proving to be sufficient members of the Army, woman marched further, for the Coast Guard and Marine Corps “soon followed suit, though in smaller numbers.”

Today, of course, around twenty percent of the American military is made up of women, and the numbers are accelerating positively.  While we may think we are done with women’s rights or even close to being done with them or, for that matter, anyone’s rights, we should probably think again.

Ben Frye, Editor

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