Last WWII Medal of Honor recipient watches his great-grandson graduate from boot camp 

And every officer, enlisted, and boot was required to salute that man.

The coolest thing would have been seeing all the brass salute him.

Every American owes a debt of gratitude to this great man. Godspeed, Sir.

How blessed the new Marine is to have enjoyed his great grandfather into his adulthood.

My dad was with the USMC 1ST Division and was a veteran of the Guadalcanal campaign. He said his proudest moment would’ve been watching me graduate at Parris Island 30 years later. I can understand how Mr Williams felt seeing his great grandson graduate. SEMPER FI gentlemen.

Woody Williams was the embodiment of bravery, pride, and patriotism. RIP sir. I salute you.

I don't know why this hasn't gotten more love on the net. This is an **extraordinary** event It's so extraordinary that this old Army cavalry corporal will not make jarhead jokes out of sincere respect to the Williams and Ross families. A respectful tip of the Stetson to you. Semper fi.

We’re free because of this man.

I still can't imagine being a soldier or marine in WW2, I have the utmost respect for these men

I remember when I was in boot camp, near graduation they would ask if anyone was related to a VIP that was going to attend. I would loved to have seen their reaction when this recruit told the drill instructors his great grandfather, who was a MOH recipient was attending. I bet it was priceless.

Deepest thanks for your service Sir! May you rest in Peace!!

That man deserves more respect than is possible. RIP Woody. ❤️ I just hope his grandson doesn’t need to earn a CMH too.

I was stationed at U.S. Naval Hospital, Beaufort, S.C. and worked at MCRD Parris Island years ago. Would have loved every minute of watching those staff officers having to snap to when Woody walked by. I'm certain they laid it all out for him, he was a legend. God rest his soul.

I was in the 82nd Airborne. I watched a son graduate Navy bootcamp and a son graduate Amy Basic Training and Infantry school. Not quite the same, but the pride and patriotism is the same. My Soldier Son did see combat in afghanistan and my Navy Son chased samoli pirates. God bless you Sir and your great grandson. And God Bless America!

the part people miss is the showing the DI's he wasn't full of crap when he told them granpa had the MoH.

Rest in peace, Marine.

RIP woody! they had one hell of a parade for you here at home once you were gone. Ill never forget all the times you came to speak at my school when i was younger, such a kind man. Rest in Power Woody

I had the honor of meeting Petty Officer Marvin J Perrett, USCG, who was a coxswain (steersman) on the landing craft used on D-Day. He brought two groups to Omaha Beach, for which action he received a Medal of Honor. (He's listed in Wikipedia.) He also drive landing craft in the Pacific Theater at Iwo Jima and Okinawa. He was at the New Orleans-based WWII Museum when I took my grandson to see it. Mr. Perrett told the story of D-Day standing next to an LCVP. He was wearing his medal on the ribbon. My grandson was fascinated by this kind old gentleman telling him first-hand accounts of the events of D-Day. He was a true gentleman and quite articulate. He has since passed away, but I will never forget the man who give my grandson an exciting day. Rest in peace, Mr. Perrett. You earned it. {Salute!}

Thank you for your service, gentlemen

This is a wholesome event. I salute you.

Thank you all !!!

Thank you sir! 🇺🇸

Mr. Williams and people like him made this country a great place to be.

WOW, thats an incredible VIDEO! Thanks for showing! John P.

How can people downvote this? SMH.

It was the current Marines who were honored by the presence of Corporal Williams.

Honor runs deep in his blood line.

RIP Soldier Williams. Thank you,

A true Marine's Marine. RIP Woody.

Thank you for your service Marine

Thanks to everyone for their service, God Bless

Sadly he died just like so many of the greatest generation! They say less than 100,000 remain

FROM ONE VETERAN TO A LEGEND I SALUTE U SIR

What an honor it is to watch ❤ Wow I'm speechless

Now that is absolutely amazing! as a retired serviceman myself, I absolutely understand what this means to Woody Williams, and his great great grandson, and to their family! God bless our brave men and women in uniform, both military and civilian support !!!

Rest in Peace Mr. Williams.

I remember when my uncle, then a very prestigous Full Bird Colonel in the Marines, was going to come to my graduation. I had to get papers filled out and everything, if he was coming formally or in civilians and if he was alone. They were freaked out and sweating. He would have outranked even the base commander, who was only a LT Colonel

He's bound to create his own,,,but his proud & blessed Grandfather has given him a legacy to build on & keep strong.

That's really cool he got to see his great grandson graduate before he passed away.

Congratulations, Marine! From the wild and wonderful state of West Virginia!!

Our heroes are the ones deserving a month's celebration for their sacrifices. We should celebrate Heroes Month and remember all those who fought for us

Wow! I get it’s cool he got to see his grandson graduate. But to have a living Medal Of Honor recipient at your Basic Training graduation is amazing!! His young Marine grandson now has a bond with him that goes deeper than just family.

Good bless Woody. RIP Devil Dog !

Anyone who serves their country with honor is a hero to me. This story is just awesome 👍👍

Finally. A news story worthy of reporting. A family's legacy of service to our United States of America 🇺🇸 ❤

For stories like this, youtube needs something better than a single thumbs-up.... there should be a button that you can only push once every five years. I'd push such a button for this story.

True American Hero Greatest Generations Ever ❤ US Army Veteran 11A

Wow, what a GREAT VIDEO to show! John P.

some years ago I was busking at Seattle’s Pike Place Market when I noticed an old fella wearing a Congressional Medal of Honor. “Wow!” I thought, “You don’t see that everyday.” then I saw another, and another, and by the third one I wasn’t playing anymore asked him if there was a convention or something. yep, there was. I wasn’t wearing a cover, so I couldn’t salute him, but I thanked him for his service. I don’t care what you think about the military. the Medal of Honor is awarded for service above and beyond the call of duty. if you don’t have that sort of stones you don’t have the right to criticize.

This is so outstanding , and for someone who has served this great country and knows a thing or two about the , Medal of Honor . That's a Marines Marine , the fact that his great grandson is a Marine. What a wonderful thing , that young man has alot to live up to . But he's a Marine and he will do great . OOOOOOOOOOOOOOORRRRRRAAAAAAHHHHHH

Gods speed and blessings to the grandfather and his grandson. Both of you where willing to stand your watch to defend this great country.

Thats beautiful, thank you ladies and gentlemen for all your sacrifices 😊

How wonderful to watch this, he must have been so proud of his great grandson.

Thank you for your service

R.I.P. CWO4 Williams

That's why it's the greatest generation. Semper Fi

I think this great man just died a couple days ago, if so at least he got to see his great grandson graduate

Bless his heart, thank you sir for service.

Wow, VERY GOOD BLOOD IN THAT FAMILY! Thanks. John P.

I saw this video in my recommended today. Its very heartwarming and was sweet to see the small clip. Then I looked at the next up video and it is titled "Remembering MOH recipient Hershel "Woody" Williams. RIP sir.

Humanity at its finest

It's remarkable. We see a Marine with the greatest honor of all, but I think what's breathtaking is that, this is the road his actions paved. This is the product he and his brothers fought hard to retain and to ensure. I don't know how different the world would be, had it not been for these brave gentlemen, but I'm glad he was able to watch his own kin of succeeding generations walk the same path.

RIP Mr. Williams. You looked sharp in your uniform to see your great grandson sir. May GOD, Jesus, and the many Marines that have preceded you welcome you into heaven with open arms.... Semper Fi.

A hero, thank you sir. All the best Cody.

"Do the best you can. Then do a little more"- Jesús how very far this Nation has fallen and most have not even gotten a clue. I weep for my grandchildren....Michael Weeks, San Antonio, Texas

What an honor !!!!!

What an honor it is for everyone around him to see a MOH recipient. Such a man makes all the other men stand taller, and all the women to take notice. Which of course is just as it should be. Thank you for your service sir. Oh? He's passed? So no MOH from WW2 still alive. I wish I had met him. Rest in eternal Peace sir.

A .30 second blurb? Really?

Woody pass in 2022, same year this was posted. His CMH citation is amazing.

God Bless

Outstanding! Thank you for your service Sir! Warrior!

Brilliant!. Everyone would have saluted the great veteran and hero!. And how great would it have been for that young cadet to later say to his buddies afterwards that's my great Grandad!. Nuff said!.

What a noble, patriotic family!

Outstanding

Salute ✝️

That was a snappy salute👍. Much respect, Marine. RIP.

Think about how many of us wouldn't be here if That Man hadn't won The Medal Of Honor ?

god rewarded woody with a long and healthy life he got to see his great grandson join him in the corp rip to a true hero

This dude was a bad ass. He won the Medal of Honor using a flamethrower. It was used in the Pacific Theater, because the Japanese would hide in caves that were death traps to enter. The flamethrower would wipe out the enemy not by directly burning them but by using up the oxygen and asphyxiating them. It was a weapon that was extremely dangerous to operate. The flamethrower attracted enemy fire because they were terrified of it, and it would tend to ignite if shot. It almost killed as many operators as enemies. The flamethrower was considered so inhuman that today it is banned worldwide as a weapon of war.

my Great Grampa is a WWII D-Day vet that denied a purple heart for an injury that he did not think was a war time injury. he passed away before I was born

RIP Hero

My uncle was chief of staff of 5th amphib force at iwo jima

Salute 🫡 RDC, USCG, Retired!

Woodie went home to his Lord. We missing him in West Virginia.

Carrying on the family legacy. Awesome!

Now if I were Trump, I would say “I don’t get it. What’s in it for them.” What a leader. What a putz!

Semper FI. U.S.M.C. 1970-1975. Mighty touching to have his Great grandfather there for Boot graduation.

The greatest generation!!

Some people call it the Congressional Medal of Honor. This is wrong. It's just Medal of Honor. I have never met a MOH recipient, but it would have been an honor to do so. Getting one means you can pretty much write your own ticket in your military career and everyone regardless of rank salutes you. Sadly though, a lot of them are awarded posthumously.

Semper Fi from an old sailor (Viet-Nam vet - first year there with a Marine company).

Meet him a few years back in Gainsville, Texas.

God bless you sir

Respect

“Do the very best that you can and then, do a little more.”

Woody I salute you.

Great story.

Semper Fi 👍

RIP Woody. died on June 29, 2002

Looks like Woody went on a final mission to survive to see his great-grandson graduation. RIP

Mr. Williams passed away June 29th, 2022. RIP sir.