The West Virginia & Regional History Center (WVRHC) marked West Virginia Day, June 20, 2025, with a program honoring West Virginia veteran, Hershel “Woody” Williams that culminated with the History Center accepting his papers as well as opening a new exhibition on World War II in the WVRHC’s Davis Galleries.
Congressional Medal of Honor recipient Hershel "Woody" Williams’ records being presented to the WVRHC.
Keynote speaker Bryan Casey, grandson of Congressional Medal of Honor recipient Hershel "Woody" Williams and Woody Williams Foundation Board Member, discussed Williams’ life and legacy. Williams was a West Virginia veteran known for his devotion to duty and service — both on and off the battlefield — who dedicated his post-military work to fellow service members, veterans, and their families. His relentless commitment to his community led to the creation of the Woody Williams Foundation, which is responsible for establishing 144 Gold Star Families Memorials Monuments across the United States to date, with more underway.
Gifted to the History Center, the Hershel “Woody” Williams Papers (A&M 4700) are now available. The collection consists of 14 boxes of correspondence, news clippings, audio and visual recordings, publications, speeches, and more.
Williams grew up in the Fairmont area, served in the Civilian Conservation Corps, and fought with the Marines in World War II. He was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for his bravery at the Battle of Iwo Jima. After the war, Williams worked as a counselor for the Veterans Administration, served in the Marine Corps reserve, and ran a training barn for horses. He co-founded the Woody Williams Foundation to serve Gold Star families who lost a loved one while in the line of duty.
WVRHC Director Lori Hostuttler noted, “The Woody Williams papers offer insight into the life and work of an extraordinary West Virginian. We are honored that the WVRHC is now their home.”
Williams is featured in the new exhibit, “West Virginians in World War II: In Their Own Words,” that opened on West Virginia Day. It highlights the experiences, archives, and artifacts of West Virginia veterans and volunteers. Their “own words” are gleaned from letters, diaries, oral histories, and essays, and in particular, the World War II Veterans Papers Project (A&M 120) — approximately 1,400 papers of recorded experiences of servicemen and women and others who participated in the war.
This speaks to one of the biggest challenges of creating the exhibit — featuring only a select few individuals. Over 200,000 West Virginians participated in the war. The WVRHC’s collections hold the stories of many more people and history than we can highlight in a single exhibit. We invite you to visit the WVRHC to see the exhibition and access other collection materials that further expand upon the role of West Virginians in the war.
The “West Virginians in World War II: In Their Own Words” exhibit will be on display in the WVRHC’s Davis Galleries through May 2026.