HERSHEL W. WILLIAMS
Corporal
United States Marine Corps Reserve

Hershel Williams

Citation

CORPORAL HERSHEL W. WILLIAMS
UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS RESERVE

  For conspicuous gallantry and  intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call
of duty as Demolition Sergeant serving with the First Battalion, Twenty-First Marines, Third
Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Iwo Jima, Volcano Island, 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, Corporal Williams daringly went forward alone to attempt the reduction
of devastating machine-gun fire from the unyielding positions. Covered only by four riflemen,
he fought desperately for four hours under terrific enemy small-arms fire and repeatedly
returned to his own lines to prepare demolition charges and obtain serviced flame throwers,
struggling back, frequently to the rear of hostile emplacements, to wipe out one position after
another. On one occasion he daringly mounted a pillbox to insert the nozzle of his flame
thrower through the air vent, kill the occupants and silence 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 in enabling
his company to reach its' objective. Corporal Williams' aggressive fighting spirit and valiant
devotion to duty throughout this fiercely contested action sustain and enhance the highest
traditions of the United States Naval Service.
 

HARRY S. TRUMAN

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