World War II Honoree

Ronal E. 'Earl' Woody, Jr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Richmond, Virginia

Honored By

A Grateful American

He served as a Captain in WWII with the 30th Infantry Division, 120th Infantry Regiment, Company G, in the European Theater of Operations. He was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster and the Distinguished Service Cross. While serving with the Army of the United States distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against the enemy from 6th of August to 12th of August, 1944, in France. On August 6, the Battalion, of which he was a member was assigned the mission of holding the high ground around Mortain, France, and the town itself. During the night, the battalion was hit by a strong and numerically superior enemy force and completely surrounded. The majority of the members of the battalion headquarters, situation in the town of Mortain, were eventually killed or captured, with but a few managing to escape. His company was among those units isolated on Hill 314 by the sudden enemy thrust. He immediately assumed personal direction of every phase of the action of his company and performed heroically for the entire six days of the isolation. He risked his life innumerable times in checking and encouraging his men, and though the enemy pressure was unrelenting, he displayed unsurpassed heroism. Faced with a shortage of water, food, and medical supplies, the situation at times seemingly hopeless, he steadfastly refused when approached by the enemy with an offer of honorable surrender. Never once did he waver in his determination to hold out against almost certain defeat, realizing the disaster should the enemy gain Hill 314. His personal courage and the heroic example so inspired the men that they exerted their supreme effort to hold this strategic position at all costs. The heroism displayed is in keeping with the highest traditions of military service.