"Iwo Jima Hero, 96, Sees U.S. Warship Commissioned" Topic

…in His Honor.

"A 96-year-old war hero looked on as military officials commissioned a U.S. Navy warship in honor of the veteran, the last surviving Medal of Honor recipient from the Battle of Iwo Jima.

The USS Hershel "Woody" Williams was commissioned Saturday in Norfolk, Virginia, with the World War II veteran present…"
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Amicalement
Armand

The USS Williams is an Expeditionary Sea Base ship that was built and launched in 2017. With its commissioning, the vessel's designation changed from a support ship to a warship, and command transferred from the Military Sealift Command to Naval Surface Force Atlantic.

Williams described the commissioning as "a moment in history that is beyond my comprehension."

"May all those who serve aboard this ship that bears my name be safe and proud. May she have God's blessings for a long life of service to America, the greatest country on Earth," he said.

U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin delivered the principal address at Saturday's ceremony …. "I have never had a more prestigious honor to be able to be here with a person who is truly an American hero," Manchin said.

What a remarkable and rewarding story. Thank you for providing the link, Armand.

An amphibious operations ship named for a Marine Corps hero. Seems fitting. I can't even describe how much better this is than naming a ship after some politician who supported it in a committee somewhere… (at least in my opinion).

USNS HERSHEL "WOODY" WILLIAMS is one of the Expeditionary Sea Base Ships derived from the MONTFORD POINT – class Expeditionary Transfer Docks. … The HERSHEL "WOODY" WILLIAMS is the first ship in the Navy named after Hershel Woodrow "Woody" Williams, a US Marine who received the Medal of Honor for his actions in the Battle of Iwo Jima during World War II.

From: navysite.de/esb/esb4.htm

-Mark
(aka: Mk 1)