Woody is a local 'boy' and the last survivor of the Batttle od Iwo Jima!! You go Woody!! Seems i recall he just had a Naval ship named for him.
MILTON - After 94 years, World War II veteran Hershel Woodrow "Woody" Williams said he's had many firsts in his life.
Next month, Williams, the last surviving recipient of the Medal of Honor from the Battle of Iwo Jima, said he will add another first to that list: flipping the coin at the 52nd Super Bowl on Feb. 4 in Minneapolis.
"I've had so many firsts - and they keep coming, even at 94," Williams said during a Milton Rotary Club luncheon Thursday.
Williams will be joined by 14 other recipients of the Medal of Honor, the United States' most prestigious military decoration, to be honored by the NFL and the nation prior to the start of the Super Bowl.
"These courageous individuals deserve to be recognized on America's biggest stage," NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said. "We are grateful for their service to our country, and we are pleased to continue the NFL's longstanding tradition of hosting special tributes to service members at the Super Bowl."
The other Medal of Honor recipients participating are: Bennie Adkins, Army, Vietnam; Don Ballard, Navy, Vietnam; Sammy Davis, Army, Vietnam; Roger Donlon, Army, Vietnam; Sal Giunta, Army, Afghanistan; Flo Groberg, Army, Afghanistan; Tom Kelley, Navy, Vietnam; Allan Kellogg, Marines, Vietnam; Gary Littrell, Army, Vietnam; Walter Marm, Army, Vietnam; Robert Patterson, Army, Vietnam; Leroy Petry, Army, Afghanistan; Clint Romesha, Army, Afghanistan; and James Taylor, Army, Vietnam.
Williams said he has known for some time that he would attend the Super Bowl but only found out Wednesday that he would be flipping the coin.
"I never thought that would ever be a possibility," he said Thursday. "Then, when they said I get to toss the coin yesterday, I was thrilled."
Williams joked that this would make up for missing the coin flip at the 2013 Military Bowl in Maryland where Marshall University defeated the University of Maryland 31-20.
"I was supposed to toss the coin for Marshall in Maryland and we got all lined up to go out, the coach and all the rest of us, to do this, and just as we got there the coach from the other team, in briefing the players, he flipped the coin," Williams said. "I couldn't believe it."
Williams said he hopes no one will steal his thunder this time.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
MILTON - After 94 years, World War II veteran Hershel Woodrow "Woody" Williams said he's had many firsts in his life.
Next month, Williams, the last surviving recipient of the Medal of Honor from the Battle of Iwo Jima, said he will add another first to that list: flipping the coin at the 52nd Super Bowl on Feb. 4 in Minneapolis.
"I've had so many firsts - and they keep coming, even at 94," Williams said during a Milton Rotary Club luncheon Thursday.
Williams will be joined by 14 other recipients of the Medal of Honor, the United States' most prestigious military decoration, to be honored by the NFL and the nation prior to the start of the Super Bowl.
"These courageous individuals deserve to be recognized on America's biggest stage," NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said. "We are grateful for their service to our country, and we are pleased to continue the NFL's longstanding tradition of hosting special tributes to service members at the Super Bowl."
The other Medal of Honor recipients participating are: Bennie Adkins, Army, Vietnam; Don Ballard, Navy, Vietnam; Sammy Davis, Army, Vietnam; Roger Donlon, Army, Vietnam; Sal Giunta, Army, Afghanistan; Flo Groberg, Army, Afghanistan; Tom Kelley, Navy, Vietnam; Allan Kellogg, Marines, Vietnam; Gary Littrell, Army, Vietnam; Walter Marm, Army, Vietnam; Robert Patterson, Army, Vietnam; Leroy Petry, Army, Afghanistan; Clint Romesha, Army, Afghanistan; and James Taylor, Army, Vietnam.
Williams said he has known for some time that he would attend the Super Bowl but only found out Wednesday that he would be flipping the coin.
"I never thought that would ever be a possibility," he said Thursday. "Then, when they said I get to toss the coin yesterday, I was thrilled."
Williams joked that this would make up for missing the coin flip at the 2013 Military Bowl in Maryland where Marshall University defeated the University of Maryland 31-20.
"I was supposed to toss the coin for Marshall in Maryland and we got all lined up to go out, the coach and all the rest of us, to do this, and just as we got there the coach from the other team, in briefing the players, he flipped the coin," Williams said. "I couldn't believe it."
Williams said he hopes no one will steal his thunder this time.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
