Ellzey receives Patton Award

DALLAS – Congressman Jake Ellzey has received the national General George S. Patton Award, according to an announcement by the State Funeral for War Veterans organization.

The honor recognizes a government official who has demonstrated a love of veterans through his leadership and action in support of our organization’s effort to have a non-Presidential State Funeral held for the last Medal of Honor recipient from the Second World War, the Korean War, and the War in Vietnam.

Other citizens previously honored by the State Funeral Organization include United States Senator Joe Manchin, WWII Medal of Honor recipients Hershel Williams and Charles Coolidge, and Congressman Steve Scalise.   

“It is a privilege to be the first recipient of the National George Patton Award.” said Ellzey, “Hershel ‘Woody’ Williams’s actions in Iwo Jima are ones for the history books. It was an honor to assist the State Funeral for World War II Veterans organization in having Woody ‘Lain in Honor’ here in our nation’s Capitol. Thank you again, the State Funeral for World War II Veterans organization, for this tremendous honor.”

Founded Labor Day of 2017, State Funeral for World War II Veterans is organized in 50 states and the District of Columbia. Their five-year successful effort to obtain a National Funeral for the last MOH recipient from World War II resulted in the following support.       

• 15 state legislatures who passed our resolution

• 16 letters of support from different State Congressional delegation

• 9 letters of endorsement from Governors

• Resolution passed by the American Legion at their 100th convention

• Letters of support from the Military Order of the Purple Heart, many VFW posts, and many other Veterans organizations

Duyane Norman, Washington D.C. Chair for State Funeral for War Veterans, said, “Like General Patton, Jake Ellzey graduated from one of our nation’s premier service academies. Honoring Gold Star Families, Medal of Honor recipients, and fighting for Veterans are passions both men had in common.”

“Jake Ellzey has been a very strong and able Congressional leader of our mission,” said State Funeral for War Veterans Chairman Lee William (Bill) McNutt. “He hosted our delegation on July 14, 2022, the day of the service in the Rotunda of the Capitol for the last World War II Medal of Honor recipient, Hershel ‘Woody’ Williams. Congressman Ellzey obtained for us the flag that flew over the Capitol the day of Woody’s historic service, and he entered the story of our organizations’ success into the Congressional Record.”

In total, 473 Americans received given our nation’s highest military honor during the Second World War. None remain. In Korea, 3.5 million Americans served, and 146 received the United States’ highest military decoration. 2.5 million men and women served in Vietnam, and 266 received the Medal of Honor. 64 of these men are still living.

The presentation was made to Congressman Ellzey at the United States Capitol on Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2023.