WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va. — As the PGA paid tribute to the nation’s veterans and first responders two men who know a lot about sacrifice were on hand to take in the first day of competition at the Military Tribute at the Greenbrier.
Woody Williams and Barney Barnum are both recipients of the Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest decoration for gallantry and bravery. However, when you talk to the two of them, both agree sacrifice is simply a way of life.
“Service is part of our inheritance. We as a country and we as a people are more geared toward service to others than any other nationality,” said Williams.
“I served to give back to my country and I think we live in the greatest country in the world,” said Barnum
Williams, who lives in Ona, West Virginia, was awarded the Medal of Honor for his service on Iwo Jima during World War II. Barnum a 30 year Marine Corps Veteran, today makes his home in Reston, Va. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions during an engagement in Vietnam in 1965.
Eighteen years after 9/11, both acknowledged the sacrifice which continues by young men and women in the military in Afghanistan, Iraq, and elsewhere in harms way around the world.
“To have an individual who is willing to take an oath of office, knowing it’s possible once they go into combat, they’ll never get back home again, that takes a tremendous amount of dedication and commitment as an American,” Williams added.
“Anybody, and Woody will tell you, that’s been to war hates war more than anybody in the world,” Barnum said. “But we have a military and if we have a strong military that’s the best deterrent against those who want to take us down and don’t believe in what our country is.”