WORLD WAR II FLAMETHROWER - Honoring an Iwo Jima hero (Episode: The Flamethrower)

The Medal of Honor recipient featured in this episode, Hershel Woodrow "Woody" Williams, joined the Marine Corps in May 1943 at the age of 19. After boot camp, he received advanced training in the use of demolitions and flamethrowers. Assigned to the 21st Marines, Cpl. Williams saw his first action during the Battle of Guam from August to October of 1944.

On Feb. 21, 1945, he landed on Iwo Jima with the second wave of Marines thrown into the bloody battle. Two days after coming ashore, Williams went "above and beyond" with his specialized training when it became apparent that a platoon of tanks could not clear a lane for an infantry advance through a well-constructed Japanese defensive network. Williams boldly went forward alone to destroy the enemy positions with both flamethrowers and demolition charges. Over the next four hours he braved intense gunfire to wipe out the enemy positions, repeatedly exposing himself to intense hostile fire as he returned to his own lines to retrieve demolition charges and flamethrowers that he then carried forward to use against hardened enemy positions. In the final tally, he used six flamethrowers to destroy seven pillboxes, each carried out single-handedly since there were no volunteers willing to help him carry flammable tanks back and forth across such a hot battlefield.

On March 6, Cpl Williams was wounded in action on Iwo Jima and later received the Purple Heart.

Woody returned to the United States in September 1945, and on Oct. 5 he was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Truman during a White House ceremony.

Interestingly, Williams' heroic action took place on the same day-Feb. 23, 1945 - that the famous "Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima" photograph was taken at the summit of Mount Suribachi. There were many heroes on Iwo Jima that day.

Here is Cpl. Williams' full Medal of Honor citation:

Rank and organization: Corporal, U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, 21st Marines, 3d Marine Division. Place and date: Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands, 23 February 1945. Entered service at: West Virginia. Born: 2 October 1923, Quiet Dell, W. Va. 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 one 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.