It was great to be back at the USS North Carolina this week to take a look at the work being done to keep the battleship in top condition.  Special thanks to Captain Terry Bragg and David Brinkley for their tireless efforts to preserve this important piece of WWII history!

Looking at the improvements made to the USS North Carolina with Captain Terry Bragg and David Brinkley.

Did you know North Carolina is among the nation’s top 10 in blueberry production?  According to NC State University’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, the North Carolina blueberry crop has a production value of more than $55 million, and 90% of the state’s commercial crop is harvested in southeastern North Carolina.

I enjoyed stopping by to see my friends at Carter Farms in Bladen County.  We should all be grateful for our farmers who find a way to overcome each and every challenge to ensure we have the safest, most abundant food supply in the world.  Thanks for having me!

Taking a look at some of the blueberry fields at Carter Farms with Ralph Carter.

This week's feature story is in honor of CWO4 Hershel “Woody” Williams, who passed away at age 98 this past week.  Mr. Williams was the last surviving WWII veteran to have received the Medal of Honor.  He earned the Medal of Honor for his bravery and heroism during the battle of Iwo Jima in 1945.  As we head into the Fourth of July weekend, Mr. Williams' Medal of Honor citation is worth a read. 

In 2019, I had the honor of meeting and talking with Mr. Williams on Air Force One while en route to designate Wilmington as America’s first WWII Heritage City.  He was a hero and America will always be grateful for his courageous and distinguished service.

Meeting CWO4 Woody Williams on Air Force One.

"America was not built on fear. America was built on courage, on imagination and an unbeatable determination to do the job at hand." — Harry S. Truman