World War II Honoree

Pendleton 'Pen' Woods

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Fort Smith, Arkansas

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

JOINED THE ARMY RESERVE CORPS IN 1942, AND WAS CALLED TO ACTIVE DUTY IN 1943. HIS REGIMENT STAGED AT CAMP MYLES STANDISH AT BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS AWAITING OVERSEAS DEPLOYMENT. SAILED FROM THE BOSTON PORT OF EMBARKATION ON SEPTEMBER 30, 1944, AND ARRIVED IN ENGLAND ON OCTOBER 11, 1944. SERVED OVERSEAS IN THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER, IN THE EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO) IN FRANCE, BELGIUM AND GERMANY, WITH COMPANY B, 1ST BATTALION, 394TH INFANTRY REGIMENT, 99TH INFANTRY 'CHECKERBOARD' DIVISION. THE REGIMENT LANDED AT LE HAVRE, FRANCE ON NOVEMBER 1, 1944, AND ENTERED THE LINE NORTH OF THE ROER RIVER ON NOVEMBER 12, 1944. HE PARTICIPATED IN THE RHINELAND CAMPAIGN. HIS UNIT WAS ENGAGED IN DEFENSIVE PATROLLING WHEN HE WAS TAKEN AS A PRISONER OF WAR (POW) ON DECEMBER 10, 1944, DURING A RECONNAISSANCE PATROL BEHIND ENEMY LINES. HE SPENT HIS 21ST BIRTHDAY IN A RAILROAD CAR AWAITING TRANSPORTATION TO A GERMAN POW CAMP. HE REMAINED A POW SOME FOUR MONTHS UNTIL HE AND OTHERS ESCAPED AFTER SOVIET ARTILLERY SHELLED THE POW COMPOUND ON APRIL 20, 1945, IN THE CLOSING WEEKS OF THE WAR IN EUROPE. AWARDED THE COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE, BRONZE STAR MEDAL, PRISONER OF WAR MEDAL, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 1 BRONZE SERVICE STAR (1 CAMPAIGN), AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AND ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON. CONTINUED IN RESERVE AND ACTIVE DUTY SERVICE WITH THE OKLAHOMA NATIONAL GUARD AFTER THE WAR UNTIL HIS RETIREMENT AS A COLONEL.