CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A U.S. Navy ship is scheduled to be named after West Virginia World War II veteran and Medal of Honor recipient Hershel “Woody” Williams.
The announcement will be held Thursday at 4 p.m. at the Culture Center in Charleston.
“What better tribute to a man such as Woody to have this type of a ship named after him?” U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) said of Williams — the last living Medal of Honor recipient in West Virginia.
Both Manchin and U.S. Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus will introduce the Navy’s newest Expeditionary Sea Base ship, T-ESB 4, during the ceremony.
Manchin said his office made sure to recognize Williams for his outstanding sacrifice and dedication to the nation by writing a letter to Mabus.
“We did everything we could. I’m just so happy that Ray stepped forward. He called and said ‘Joe, we’re going to get this done.’ He said ‘this man deserves to have this type of recognition and it’s going to happen,'” said Manchin.
“That name on that ship, defending this great country, will be there for quite some time,” he said.