Presented is a lot of two items commemorating the Battle of Iwo Jima during World War II, signed and inscribed by Medal of Honor recipient Hershel Williams. He received the United States military's highest decoration for valor—the Medal of Honor—for heroism above and beyond the call of duty during the Battle of Iwo Jima in World War II. On February 21, 1945, William landed on the beach with the 1st Battalion, 21st Marines. Williams, by then a corporal, distinguished himself two days later when American tanks, trying to open a lane for infantry, encountered a network of reinforced concrete pillboxes. Williams went forward alone with his 70-pound flamethrower to attempt the reduction of devastating machine gun fire from the unyielding positions. Covered by only four riflemen, he fought for four hours under terrific enemy small-arms fire and repeatedly returned to his own lines to prepare demolition charges and obtain serviced flame throwers. He returned to the front, frequently to the rear of hostile emplacements, to wipe out one position after another. At one point, a wisp of smoke alerted him to the air vent of a Japanese bunker, and he approached close enough to put the nozzle of his flamethrower through the hole, killing the occupants. On another occasion, he was charged by enemy riflemen who attempted to stop him with bayonets, and he killed them with a burst of flame from his weapon. These actions occurred on the same day that two flags were raised on Mount Suribachi, and Williams, about one thousand yards away from the volcano, was able to witness the event. He fought through the remainder of the five-week-long battle even though he was wounded on March 6 in the leg by shrapnel.

The first item in this lot is a framed display commemorating the flag raising at Iwo Jima, featuring a 16 x 20-inch black and white photo of the flag raising signed and inscribed by Williams in black pen.  He has signed his name and inscribed “Medal of Honor” below his signature.  Below that inscription, Williams has inscribed “Discipline and shared hardship pull people together in powerful ways. – Alvin York, Medal of Honor Recipient”. Above the photo is the legend, reversed out in white type, “Among the men who fought on Iwo Jima, uncommon valor was a common virtue.” Below the photo is a U.S. flag patch in the lower left corner, and a United States Marine Corps patch in the lower left corner. There is a silver metal plaque in the lower center, engraved in black “Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima On February 23, 1945, Sergeant Michael Strank, Corporal Harlon Block, & Private First Class Franklin Soudley raised the flag on Iwo Jima, but were killed in action over the next few days. The three surviving flag raisers were Private First Class Renen Gagnon, Ira Hayes, & Harold Schultz who first received Marine Corps recognition in June 2016.” The photo, two patches and plaque are set in a gray paper matte with black and white borders, within a 28 x 29-inch black and gold wood frame and glass. This item comes with a COA from JSA (DD96467).

The second item in this lot is a framed shadowbox display commemorating the Battle of Iwo Jima, featuring a Williams signature and inscription on a 16 x 20-inch color photograph of the Iwo Jima memorial in Washington, D.C. Williams has signed his name in black marker, and inscribed “Medal of Honor Iwo Jima 1945” below his signature. There is a triangular-folded U.S. flag in the upper left corner of the photograph, placed over the photograph. The photograph is mounted in 17 x 23-inch ivory cloth matte with navy-blue and white borders. Below the photograph, on the matte are five cloth patches representing the branches of the United States military – from left to right, Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps and Navy. The photo is inscribed “1/45” in gold marker in the lower right corner. Below the matted photograph, flag and patches is a black metal plaque, engraved in silver, “” One flag, one land, one heart, one hand, One Nation evermore!” – Oliver Wendell Holmes”.  The 2½ x 11½ -inch plaque is mounted in a 4½ x 13½ -inch ivory cloth matte with navy-blue and white borders. Both mounted items are displayed on a black background within the 3 x 21½ x 34-inch black plastic frame with glass shadow box. This item comes with a COA from JSA (DD96461).

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