First Medal of Valor Awards Granted To Seven First Responders

Seven first responders received the state’s first round of Medal of Valor awards during a ceremony Wednesday afternoon.

The state legislature created the award, and the board that grants it, in 2021.

“Too often, they’re underpaid. Too often, they’re underappreciated,” Gov. Jim Justice said during the ceremony. “We need to do something about that, don’t we? And we need to show them, not only that we appreciate them, and that they’re deserving of fair wages, but we also need to show them just how much that we will never forget them.”

The Medal of Valor was created to be awarded to firefighters, emergency medical services personnel and law enforcement “who distinguish themselves conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of their lives above and beyond the call of duty in the performance of their duties,” according to state code.

Del. Daniel Linville, R-Cabell, helped present the award in honor of Woody Williams, who requested the state create it. 

“He wanted this honor removed from the political process,” Linville said. “He didn’t want one person to be able to award the state’s highest honor. He wanted it to follow the process that the Medal of Honor follows nationally.”

This year’s recipients include Patrolman Cassie Johnson, Corporal Marshall Bailey, Trooper Eric Workman, Deputy John Westfall, Sergeant Thomas E. Baker III and firefighters John Dean Forbush and James W. Spencer.

Five of the recipients, including Johnson, Bailey, Workman, Baker and Forbush were granted the award posthumously. Their families were in attendance to accept the award on their behalf.