There was never any doubt that I would add Woody Williams to the list of American Averagists, but I wanted to wait until things calmed down. After he passed away, people used his memorial at the U.S. Capitol to score empathy points in the media. I didn’t want to jump on that bandwagon, and except for a short post on LinkedIn honoring his commitment to StandWatch.org’s student program, I kept my mouth shut.
When he wasn’t traveling the country in support of Gold Star Families, Woody ate breakfast with a small group of friends every week at Shonet’s Country Café in Milton, West Virginia. Shonet’s is about fifteen miles from my house, and a relative of mine was a regular at Woody’s table. When I started StandWatch in 2015, Woody agreed to meet and talk about a veteran program some friends and I were launching through the nonprofit. We met at Shonet’s, talked for about two hours over coffee, bacon, and eggs, and he agreed to help. I was always respectful of Woody’s time, and I rarely told people about his support for my work. I didn’t have to. When I needed his help, he was always there telling people himself.
In 2018, some of our students had an opportunity to work on a Gold Star Family Memorial project that Woody was trying to get built at the West Virginia State Capitol. He was a fantastic mentor for the kids, and together, they got the memorial project authorized by the West Virginia legislature. Later, that year, Woody met with another group of our students for breakfast at Shonet’s before they set out on one of StandWatch’s student expeditions to the American West.
I regret to say that it had been about three years since I spoke with Woody when I learned of his death on June 29th. After reading the announcement online, I paused to look at a cabinet behind my desk. Tucked between books from the 1940s are family photos, a piece of the Berlin Wall, a utility pouch my grandfather brought back from Germany after World War II, and a small aluminum box that holds a gift Woody gave me back in 2018. I thought about his life; a life that began in rural Appalachia and spanned the globe over ninety-eight years. I thought about the people he impacted and the amazing things he accomplished after that day on Iwo Jima. I thought about Woody’s humility, commitment to others, and belief in God and country.
I cannot think of anyone I know who has led a more meaningful life than Woody Williams. He was a normal guy from an ordinary place who did extraordinary things. He was truly a great man.
Woody with StandWatch Academy Students at Shonet’s
Woody loved joking around with the students.
Woody and I with my son in 2018.
