A Medal of Honor detour Published Feb. 19, 2016 By James Rumfelt 82nd Training Wing Public Affairs SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- Medal of Honor recipient Hershel Woodrow “Woody” Williams took a special detour from the annual Iwo Jima Survivors Reunion at Sheppard Air Force Base this year. The WWII Hero took time to visit with some Airmen in Training from the 362nd Training Squadron. He spoke with the group about assumptions made about service members every day in our country. “You all were brave enough to sign a document that stated you can take my life, but you will not take my freedom,” Williams said. He told the Airmen that the rest of America counts on them, assuming that there will always be enough of them to protect their freedom. He spoke about what it means to take on a responsibility like that, what it means to take an oath. He shared some personal stories and proved over and over during the visit that despite his age, he has not lost touch with what it means to be a service member. “We do not pay our armed forces the respect they deserve,” Williams said, thanking the Airman surrounded by F-16 Fighting Falcon Aircraft and a Predator Unmanned Aerial Vehicle. At the end of the small group discussion, Airman Derek Stiles gave Williams a coin and thanked him for his words of wisdom, his service and his time. “It was incredibly humbling to meet someone of his stature,” said Stiles, a B-52 Flying Fortress crew chief. Stiles believes that meeting Williams will impact the rest of his service and career. “Just being in the same line of work as men like that makes me very proud to serve and carry on that heritage,” Stiles continued. The Survivors of Iwo Jima plan to continue to include Sheppard in their annual reunions for as long as possible.