Letter to Joseph R. Biden, President of the United States - Booker, Sherrill Lead Members of New Jersey Congressional Delegation in Requesting State Funeral for Last Surviving World War II Medal of Honor Recipient

Letter

We, the members of the delegation from the State of New Jersey, request that you direct a state funeral for World War II (WWII) veteran, Corporal Hershel "Woody" Williams, United States Marine Corps. This effort would not only honor Corporal Williams, but also the 16 million other Americans who defended our nation and ideals in WWII. Corporal Williams of West Virginia was the last living WWII Medal of Honor recipient in the United States until he died this morning at the age of 98. We believe that Corporal Williams is deserving of this honor.

Over 560,000 New Jerseyans fought in WWII, with 10,372 ultimately sacrificing their lives for their country and only 16 earning the Medal of Honor. These 16 New Jerseyans exhibited exceptional valor and courage, and they represent the spirit of all the brave service members from our state whose devotion to duty and country must be remembered:

John Basilone, USMC
Frederick Castle, USAAC
Martin May, USA
Nicholas Minue, USA
Joseph Sadowski, USA
Peter Tomich, USN
George Benjamin Jr., USA
John Dutko, USA
Francis McGraw, USA
Nicholas Oresko, USA
Franklin Sigler, USMC
Francis Burke, USA
Stephen Gregg, USA
John Meagher, USA
Carlton Rouh, USMC
Horace Thorne, USA

Corporal Williams would not be the first to receive a state funeral to memorialize a group of service members. In 1921, the Unknown Soldier of World War I was interred in Arlington with a state funeral to recognize the collective sacrifice of all unidentified soldiers who had died in the war. This act was repeated in 1958 with the internment of Unknown Soldiers who fought and died in World War II and the Korean War.

The members of the New Jersey Congressional delegation below entreat you to designate a state funeral for Corporal Williams. He was an exemplary member of the Greatest Generation and he must be treated with the respect befitting WWII's last decorated hero. We hope that you find our request appropriate and recognize the importance of honoring our nation's most noble fallen.