World War II Honoree

Paul H. Woods

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Denver, Colorado

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

Rank: Private. Inducted into the United States Marine Corps from Colorado. He completed basic training with the Fourth Recruit Battalion Recruit Depot; Marine Corps Base San Diego, California. Upon his graduation from Boot Camp, he was transferred to Camp Pendleton Oceanside, California for combat training. He served as a Rifleman, assigned to the Twenty-Seventh Replacement Draft Battalion, an element of the Fifth Marine Division Location: Western Pacific Theater of Operations. His division participated in the amphibious assault on the Volcanic Island of Iwo Jima and occupation (Battle Dates: February 19-March 26, 1945) Code Name: Operation Detachment. Saturday, March 3, 1945 he was mortally wounded, during offensive operations against the Imperial Japanese forces. Personnel from a Graves Registration Company buried him in the Fifth Marine Division Iwo battlefield cemetery. In the post-war era, this Marines’ family requested that he be buried with Military Honors at a private cemetery in Colorado. This American Patriot was awarded the Purple Heart posthumously, for his Heroism and ultimate sacrifice.