World War II Honoree

William P. Woods

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Honored By

Friends of American Heroes

RECEIVED THE BRONZE STAR MORE THAN 60 YEARS AFTER HIS MILITARY SERVICE. THE HONOR CAME FOR HIS ACTIONS WHILE A MEMBER OF THE ARMY'S 1ST RANGER BATTALION, BASED IN NORTH AFRICA. THE GROUP WAS SENT TO CISTERNA, ITALY WITH ORDERS TO KEEP THE ROAD TO ROME OPEN. BUT THEY WALKED INTO A GERMAN TRAP AND CAME UNDER HEAVY FIRE. WITH AMMUNITION RUNNING LOW AND WITH NO COVER, HE RAN OVER TO A FARMHOUSE, TO A GERMAN SNIPER'S POST, AND LOBBED A GRENADE THROUGH A WINDOW, KILLING SEVERAL ENEMY SOLDIERS. BUT BOTH HE AND HIS BROTHER, JOHN, ALSO A RANGER, WERE CAPTURED AT CISTERNA AND WERE FORCED TO WORK AT A GERMAN FARM CAMP FOR 18 MONTHS. WHEN RUSSIAN TROOPS ADVANCED TOWARD THE CAMP, THE BROTHERS AND FELLOW PRISONERS WERE FORCED TO MARCH 500 MILES TO EVADE THEM. AFTER THE WAR, BOTH MEN WERE AWARDED PURPLE HEARTS.