World War II Honoree

Wayne H. Woodman

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Elk City, Oklahoma

Honored By

OAMC, ROTC Class of 1943

SERVED IN THE ARMY RESERVE OFFICER TRAINING CORPS AT OKLAHOMA A&M COLLEGE AT STILLWATER, OKLAHOMA FROM SEPTEMBER, 1940 TO APRIL 5, 1943. SIMULTANEOUSLY SERVED AS A PRIVATE IN THE ENLISTED RESERVE CORPS WITH THE 1875TH SERVICE UNIT FROM JULY 1942 TO APRIL 5, 1943. INDUCTED AND CALLED TO ACTIVE DUTY ON APRIL 6, 1943. REPORTED TO THE RECEPTION CENTER, FORT SILL, AT LAWTON, OKLAHOMA ON APRIL 12, 1943. ASSIGNED TO OFFICER CANDIDATE SCHOOL AT FORT BELVOIR, AT ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA DURING THE PERIOD JUNE TO SEPTEMBER 1943. HONORABLY DISCHARGED IN SEPTEMBER 1943 WITH THE RANK OF CORPORAL TO ACCEPT AN APPOINTMENT AS AN OFFICER. GRADUATED AND COMMISSIONED A SECOND LIEUTENANT IN THE CORPS OF ENGINEERS IN SEPTEMBER 1943. SERVED IN THE AMERICAN THEATER AT CAMP GRUBER AT BRAGGS, OKLAHOMA ASSIGNED TO THE 142ND ENGINEER COMBAT BATTALION. STAGED AT CAMP KILMER, STELTON, NEW JERSEY ON DECEMBER 23, 1944 UNTIL SAILING OVERSEAS FROM NEW YORK PORT OF EMBARKATION ON JANUARY 6, 1945. LANDED AT MARSEILLE, FRANCE ON JANUARY 18, 1945. SERVED IN THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER AS COMMANDER OF COMPANY B, 142ND ENGINEER COMBAT BATTALION, 42ND INFANTRY 'RAINBOW' DIVISION. ENTERED COMBAT ON FEBRUARY 14, 1945 NEAR HAGUENAU, FRANCE IN THE HARDT MOUNTAINS. TOOK PART IN THE ATTACKS ON THE WEST WALL ON MARCH 15, 1945 NEAR BAERENTHAL; CROSSED THE RHINE RIVER ON MARCH 31, 1945 IN THE PUSH TOWARD WUERZBURG, GERMANY; MOVED AGAINST SCHWEINFURT IN EARLY APRIL, AND FUERTH AND NUREMBERG IN MID-APRIL. THEN DROVE TOWARD THE DANUBE RIVER AND ESTABLISHED BRIDGEHEADS AND CROSSINGS, AND ATTACKED MUNICH IN LATE APRIL 1945. PARTICIPATED IN THE RHINELAND AND CENTRAL EUROPE CAMPAIGNS. AWARDED THE GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 2 BRONZE SERVICE STARS, WWII VICTORY MEDAL, AND ARMY OF OCCUPATION MEDAL WITH 'GERMANY' CLASP. HONORABLY DISCHARGED WITH THE RANK OF FIRST LIEUTENANT IN SEPTEMBER 1946. ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON.