Back in 1945, Hershel W. “Woody” Williams, now 91, stood before President Harry S. Truman, who was about to award the young U.S. Marine Corps. colonel with the Medal of Honor for his service during the Battle of Iwo Jima in World War II.
According to Williams, Truman said, “ I would rather have the medal than be President.”
Williams was dumbstruck and said nothing. But Jack Lucas, his fellow honoree and the youngest person ever to be awarded the Medal, spoke up.
“I’ll trade you,” he told the President.
Williams told his story to a rapt crowd of some 200 people today who laughed and cried during the presentation which was part of a Nashville Salutes event at the First Baptist Church in Nashville, Tenn. honoring Medal of Honor recipients.
In a more serious moment, Williams shared what the Commandant of the Marine Corps. said to him after he was awarded the medal all those years ago.
“He said, ‘That medal does not belong to you. It belongs to all those marines who didn’t come home. Don’t ever do anything to tarnish it.’”
Bennie Adkins and Thomas Norris, both veterans of the Vietnam War and fellow honorees who shared the stage with Williams echoed this sentiment.
“The medal is not for me,” said Adkins, Sgt. 1st Class, U.S. Army, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne). “It’s for the others I served with.”
“I don’t feel I was anybody special,” said Norris, Lieutenant, U.S. Navy Seals. “I’m just a custodian of this medal.”
More: Character in Action: Medal of Honor Recipients Help Teach Students
Nashville Salutes wraps up its weeklong celebration and launch of the Medal of Honor Character Development Program throughout Middle Tennessee on Saturday, August 8, 2015, with a Heroes Honoring Heroes Parade from 8:30 – 10 a.m. and a Gala at the Music City Center on Saturday night.
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