I feel like all my writings on the nature of the impossible these past few months have been leading me to this post—the one about Woody Williams.
Woody was so many things. A hero. A friend. And, until his death in 2022 at the age of 98, he had been the last surviving Medal of Honor recipient from World War II. His heroic actions single-handedly changed the course of the Battle of Iwo Jima; with Allied forces stonewalled for days by a heavily fortified enemy position, Williams volunteered to crawl on his belly and approach the Japanese pillboxes from behind, climb to the ventilation shafts on top, and kill the enemy combatants inside with a flamethrower. Because the flamethrower technology of the time only gave him a few seconds of burn per tank, he had to crawl on his belly back to his platoon, get a new flamethrower, and repeat the process all day long. It was, by any definition, a completely insane risk to accomplish a task that by all measures looked impossible.
If you have some time, I highly recommend you read the full feature story we published about it in Robert Irvine Magazine a few years back. That link is below.
In the meantime, suffice it to say that Woody was perhaps especially ordained for this moment of extraordinary valor. At 5-foot-6 recruiters rejected his attempts to enlist several times until the needs of the war forced an expansion of the rigid physical requirements. Simply put: He wasn't even supposed to be there, but because he didn't believe in anyone else's notions of what his own limitations might be, he was. And because he was there, it forever left a mark on American history.
When he returned home a hero and overcame his own struggles with PTSD and addiction, he then dedicated the remainder of his considerably long life to helping other soldiers do the same.
He achieved immeasurable good for his country through an incredible force of will and indomitable character, the defining nature of which I would say is that he never believed in the word impossible.
You'll probably never face the kind of death in danger that Woody faced, but there's so much you can learn and take with you from his example.
I feel honored that I got to know Woody, and lucky that I got to call him my friend.
I try to channel his spirit every day in all that I do, and Overcoming Impossible Live on October 23 is especially meaningful for me because I know for certain that if he were alive today, Woody would be there to share his unbelievable story.
I know he'll be there in spirit, though, as we take a page from his book and crush our notions of what we believe to be impossible.
Hope to see you there.
https://t.co/KaSZNwFkZJ
@JustBeachy123@JillianMichaels I'd take the phone & everything else & only leave the necessities. Go to school, come home, study/homework/chores, if she'd even do them, 3 meals, shower, sleep, repeat. Back to basics. If she isn't in school & over 18, then, pack your bags, the real world is calling.
@jk_rowling 100% agreed. She was a once in a generation beacon of love, joy, talent, hope, comedy & kindness. Her beauty was just a cherry on top. May she live in our hearts forever.
@waff48 It's sad enough that person wanted to harm themselves but don't take your loved ones with you. Please, seek help if this is something on your mind, there is so much support available. Prayers for the family & friends.
Fifteen years ago, I founded the @GarySiniseFound with a simple mission: to serve and honor our nation's defenders, veterans, first responders, and their families.
And the incredible impact we've made together over the last decade and a half has been remarkable. From specially adapted smart homes and support for families of fallen heroes to programs serving our wounded heroes and first responders, our ever expanding reach, touching more and more lives in such a positive way would not have been possible without the generosity of the American people.
As we celebrate this milestone, I'm deeply grateful to everyone who has joined us on this journey. And thanks to the extraordinary generosity of the McBunch family, every gift made during our 15th Anniversary celebration will be matched dollar for dollar, up to $250,000.
Thank you for helping us serve those who sacrifice so much for our country. Here's to the next 15 years. Donate today at https://t.co/u7xo8O8mJd
This morning America lost one of our great comedians and patriots, and I lost a dear friend. Tom Dreesen died at 86 years old. He was a special person, a U.S. Navy veteran with a tremendously charitable heart.
He served as a Gary Sinise Foundation ambassador for the past 14 years and was always there when I asked for his support. He loved our country and the men and women who serve and he loved supporting them through our foundation.
Tom was hilarious, always could make us laugh, and such a good friend. I will miss him terribly. What a great long career he had in show business.
Thank you, Tom. God Bless you my friend. Rest in Peace brother.
Recently, I’ve been posting about the history of certain spices. This was me visiting Zanzibar and smelling fresh nutmeg and mace. It’s amazing to see these plants before they become the familiar dried spices we see in our pantry. #ThrowbackThursday
@SimonMajumdar It's amazing how much history can be lost over the years; family recipes, traditions, stories, & even the origins of the foods we enjoy every day. I love that you help preserve & share these pieces of history. Thank you for taking us along on the journey.💕🌎
@nicksortor Assault: Intentionally striking or harming a K-9 or mounted horse carries felony-level penalties in most jurisdictions, much like assaulting an officer.
I understand a peaceful protest but this is not the case here, be better for everyone's safety, your sending the wrong message.
I wrote a song called “STAND UP FOR SOMETHING” I wanted to share with y’all. This is a true story (as most of my songs) about what my Ma & Pa Bice use to tell me when I was growing up. It still rings in my ears today whenever I run up on a situation that makes me confront #truth