thank you for being here to help us recognize these newest honorees. i want to note that last week we lost a giant in this community. her shell woodie williams, the last medal of honor recipient of world war ii. honored by president truman for his valor during the battle of iwo jima. he will soon lie in honer in the united states capitol. his passing is a reminder of what so many americans of our greatest generation sacrificed to preserve lib irty, democracy and for our nation and for the world. now it s my great honor to ask for the citations to be read and we award the medal of honors to the late staff sergeant, specialist birdwell, specialist fujii, and major john duffy.
made sure to correct the record and document his actions to make this day possible. a member of the cherokee nation, birdwell credits the cherokee veterans who came before him who encouraged him to serve when he called and i might note native american communities, a larger percentage serving in the united states armed forces at a higher percentage rate than any other cohort in america. after leaving the armory, he continued to build a legacy of service in his community in oklahoma. he started his own law firm, served for 12 years on the cherokee nation supreme court, and he passed that legacy of service down to his daughter stephanie who is with him today. serves as the director of the office of tribal relations at the department of veterans affairs. specialist birdwell, thank you, thank you, and to your wife, virginia, i know she wishes she could be here with you today, give her our love as well.
in a flight to keep firing on the enemy. even when that m-60 was hit by enemy fire causing it to explode and send shrapnel into birdwell s face, chest, arms and hands, he remained on the battlefield. when he was ordered to load onto the medevac helicopter, he complied. this i find amazing, only to crawl right back off the other side and to keep on fighting. that s what you call taking orders and causing trouble. god love you. only after reinforcements arrive and after he helped treat the evacuees, his fellow wounded, did specialist birdwell agree to evacuate himself. at the time he received a silver star for outstanding heroism on the battlefield. it took decades for his commanding officer, then general glenn otis, to realize that birdwell had not received the full honor he earned. in retirement general otis made