According to U.S. Marine Carl Spurlin Dekel, much of what American soldiers fought for in World War II has “gone down the drain.” Dekel, who recently celebrated his 100th birthday, stated that serving his country in WWII was the most significant thing he ever did. Despite his willingness to put his life on the line again, he expressed regret that the U.S. has strayed from the ideals he once knew.

Dekel shared his concerns with Fox 13, saying, “People don’t realize what they have. The things we did and the things we fought for and the boys that died for it, it’s all gone down the drain.” He lamented the changes in the country, noting, “We haven’t got the country we had when I was raised, not at all. Nobody will have the fun I had. Nobody will have the opportunity I had. It’s just not the same, and that’s not what our boys died for.”

Loss of a Hero

On the same day as Dekel’s remarks, the U.S. lost its last surviving Medal of Honor recipient from WWII, Hershel “Woody” Williams, who passed away at 98 years old. Williams, a fellow Marine, received his medal for heroism during the battle of Iwo Jima in 1945. He died surrounded by his family in a hospital named after him in West Virginia.

In a statement to Fox News Digital, America’s 63 living Medal of Honor recipients honored Williams. They reflected on his life, stating, “Friends and family of Woody Williams knew him as a West Virginia farmer’s son and the youngest of 11 children who dutifully supported his family after his father died. Fellow Marines knew him as the corporal who volunteered for a mission on Iwo Jima to clear a lane through enemy pillboxes that were destroying American tanks.”

They also highlighted his post-war contributions, noting, “Veterans in West Virginia knew him as their advocate through his work as a Veterans Service Representative. Gold Star families knew Woody through his work raising money for scholarships and other programs through the Woody Williams Foundation. We, his fellow Medal of Honor Recipients, knew him as our friend and one of our heroes. We will miss him greatly.”

Hope for Resurgence

Williams shared Dekel’s sense of loss regarding patriotism in the U.S. During a Memorial Day interview, he expressed hope for a resurgence of patriotic spirit. “I’ve been at this probably 25 to 30 times, but I believe today we had more honor wreaths than we’ve ever had before, and that’s encouraging,” Williams told WSAZ during a veterans’ event. “It gives me encouragement that we’re coming back and that we will again be that United States of America that had so much patriotism and love of country.”