23FEB1945: Landing just a few days prior during the initial invasion, Cpl Hershel Williams and his team were working alongside American tanks, trying to clear a path forward during the Battle of Iwo Jima. As the column was stopped by countless reinforced enemy positions, Cpl Williams picked up a flame thrower, and with a few other Marines moved forward. Braving the intense Japanese fire, Cpl Williams was quickly the last man standing and he began his relentless assault. Repeatedly moving within yards of enemy positions, Cpl Williams destroyed one bunker after another with demolition charges and his flame thrower. Through an intense four hour fight, Cpl Williams would exhaust his flame thrower in the face of enemy fire, return to friendly lines to pick up another then move back into the fight. On the search for more entrenched enemy fighters, Cpl Williams even climbed upon an active bunker in order to fire his flamethrower down into the air vent, neutrazlizing all inside. In a desparate attempt to stop his progress, Japanese soldiers charged Williams with bayonets drawn. Turning his flame thrower forward, Cpl Williams met and destroyed the threat. For his incredible bravery in taking out one bunker after another on Iwo Jim, Cpl Hershel Williams would be awarded the Medal of Honor. Today, at age 96, he is the only surviving recipient from the Pacific theater of the war.

Ask this episode

“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.

Transcript

Related