WV's Congressional Representatives Request State Funeral For Last World War II Medal of Honor Recipient | WV State Journal

WASHINGTON — All five of West Virginia's representatives in the U.S. Congress have written a letter to President Trump requesting a state funeral be held for the last World War II Medal of Honor recipient.

Sens. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., and Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., and Reps. David McKinley, R-W.Va., Alex Mooney, R-W.Va., and Carol Miller, R-W.Va., together drafted the letter, according to a release from Manchin's office.

According to the release, the request is an effort to honor the patriotism and bravery of all the men and women who served their country during the war, including West Virginia's own Hershel Woodrow “Woody” Williams.

Williams is one of the last four surviving Medal of Honor recipients of World War II, according to the letter.

"Woody Williams’ act of storming four enemy pillboxes under tremendous fire, and continuing to fight through the entire five week long campaign on Iwo Jima earned him the Medal of Honor," the letter reads. "It is these displays of bravery and fortitude that we feel our nation should be reminded of. The Greatest Generation represents the very best of West Virginia and America. For this reason, we can think of no greater tribute than to honor the last of our national heroes of this generation with a state funeral."

Legislation introduced by West Virginia representatives was passed last year renaming the VA Medical Center in Huntington in Williams' honor.

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