World War II Honoree

George Alan Wood

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Muskegon, Michigan

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

Rank: Seaman First Class. He was inducted into the United States Navy March 1, 1939 at Detroit, Michigan, with recruit training at the U.S. Naval Training Station Great Lakes, Illinois. Upon his graduation from boot camp, he was transferred to the USS Neosho Tanker/Oiler, AO-23 for duty as an on-the-job trainee. The Tanker and her shipmates participated in the Battle of the Coral Sea against the Imperial Japanese Naval Aviators (Battle Dates: May 4-8, 1942) in the South Pacific Theater of Operations. On the Eighth, at 11:00 hours the Tanker came under attack, and she went down after sustaining multiple bomb strikes. Reported missing in action on the day of the attack. In remembrance of the brave, his name is permanently inscribed in the tablets of the missing, memorialized at the Manila American Cemetery at Fort William-McKinley, Philippine Islands. This American Patriot was awarded the Purple Heart posthumously, for his ultimate sacrifice in defense of his country.