World War II Honoree

Donald E. Woods

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Somerville, Massachusetts

Honored By

Dr. and Mrs. Jim Wheeler

ENLISTED 2/25/43. 5TH MARINE DIVISION, L BATTERY, 4TH BATTALION, 13TH REGIMENT. BASIC TRAINING, PARIS ISLAND, SC. INCLUDED RIFLEMAN WITH MARKSMAN QUALIFICATIONS. TRAINED AS INSTRUMENT MAN IN 75MM PACK HOWITZER AND 105MM HOWITZER AT QUANTICO, VIRGINIA. AT CAMP PENDLETON, OCEANSIDE, CALIFORNIA, TRAINED IN FORWARD OBSERVING, WIREMAN, TELEPHONE MAN. AT CAMP TARAWA, HILO, HAWAII.,TRAINED FOR EXTENSIVE COMBAT ON VOLCANIC TERRAIN. FOUGHT AT IWO JIMA, INNER CIRCLE OF JAPAN, NO INJURY. TRAINED AT CAMP TARAWA FOR INVASION OF ISLAND OF KYUSHU JAPAN PROPER. HE WAS AWARDED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER RIBBON WITH 1 STAR, THE WWII VICTORY MEDAL, THE AMERICAN CAMPAIGN RIBBON, THE OCCUPATION OF JAPAN MEDAL, AND A PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION WITH 1 STAR. HE WAS HONORABLY DISCHARGED AT BAINBRIDGE, MARYLAND IN MARCH,1946, WITH A CERTIFICATE AWARDED AS A TESTIMONIAL OF FIDELITY AND OBEDIENCE.