BROCTON PARATROOPER
DISCHARGED AFTER
EUROPEAN SERVICE
Paratrooper T/5 Walter G. Woods, son of Mr. and Mrs.
Harry L. Woods of Highland avenue, Brocton, is home after being
honorably discharged from the army. He was in the 508th Parachute
Infantry regiment of the 82nd Airborne division. He has four
battle stars and two combat jumps, in Normandy and Holland, to his
credit. He also fought in the battles of Belgium and the
Rhineland.
Since VE Day his regiment, which has been guarding General
Eisenhower's headquarters in Frankfurt, has been presented with
decorations by Belgium, France and the Netherlands.
His medals and decorations include the Purple Heart, with one oak
leaf cluster, the Presidential Unit Citation with one oak leaf cluster,
the God Conduct Medal, one Spearhead, for the invasion of Normandy, the
expert marksmanship in combat badge, European and American theatre
ribbons, victory ribbon, Occupation ribbon, the Belgian Fourragére, the
French decoration and the Netherlands award of the "Militaire Willems
Orde" degree of the Knight of the 4th Class.
In addition to these, the personnel of the 508th who fought in
Holland are entitled to wear the Orange Lanyard of the Royal Netherlands
army. This is the first time any unit other than the Dutch army
has received this citation. |
Walter enlisted in the Army at Buffalo, NY on 5 November
1942 and was assigned to Company E, 508th PIR at Camp Blanding,FL.
Pfc woods jumped into Normandy on 6 June 1944 and was
wounded on 3 July 1944.
Phil Nordyke's book "Put Us Down in Hell"
contains a mention of Walter's wound, "the 3rd Platoon of Company
E was fired upon from the woods, wounding Corporal Walter C. Woods in
the knee"
Pfc Woods was promoted to Corporal on 21 July 44.
Cpl Woods was wounded a second time on 20 September
1944 in Holland. |