State Rep. Haraz N. Ghanbari Issues Statement on Passing of Fellow Veteran Hershel Woodrow Williams

June 29, 2022

U.S. Marine Corps World War II veteran and Medal of Honor recipient Hershel Woodrow Williams, better known as Woody, left, smiles after pinning lieutenant commander rank on 1997 Cleveland Indians' ball boy and newly promoted Naval officer Haraz N. Ghanbari, Saturday, Sept. 1, 2018, during a Cleveland Indians baseball game in Cleveland. Williams, 98, died Wednesday, June 29, 2022, following health complications in his home state of West Virginia. The decorated Marine, also known as the founder of the Gold Star Families Memorial Monument, received the Medal of Honor from President Harry S. Truman, Oct. 5, 1945, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty during the Battle of Iwo Jima. (Photo/ Courtesy State Rep. Haraz N. Ghanbari)

State Rep. Haraz N. Ghanbari (R-Perrysburg), Chairman of the Ohio House Armed Services and Veterans Affairs Committee, issues the following statement on the passing of fellow veteran Hershel Woodrow Williams; Decorated Marine and last surviving Medal of Honor Recipient from World War II:

“My family and I are saddened to learn of the passing of our friend 98-year-old U.S. Marine Corps World War II veteran Hershel Woodrow Williams — better known as Woody — who received the Medal of Honor from President Harry S. Truman, Oct. 5, 1945, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty during the Battle of Iwo Jima.

“Woody was the last living Medal of Honor recipient from World War II, and his service and sacrifice will stand for generations to come as a testament of the best our nation has to offer. Through his foundation, The Woody Williams Foundation, Ohio has 12 Gold Star Families Memorial Monuments including the most recently dedicated here in Perrysburg. It was Woody’s vision to establish these monuments in as many communities as possible in all 50 states and U.S. territories to honor the families of service members who have sacrificed their lives while serving in the military.

“I ask our fellow Ohioans to join our family in praying for Woody, his family, friends, loved ones, and our nation’s military personnel across the globe who Woody so deeply cared about.”

Woody Williams helped pin Ghanbari’s Navy rank to Lt. Commander at a Cleveland Indians baseball game in 2018, a portion of the video is downloadable here.