World War II Honoree

Lawrence Eldon Woods

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Greenwood, Texas

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

Relationship

Friend

Rank: Fireman First Class. He was inducted into the United States Navy October 28, 1940, at Dallas, Texas with Basic Military Training at the U.S. Naval Training Station San Diego, California. Upon his graduation from Boot Camp and with additional training; he was transferred to the USS Oklahoma Battleship, BB-37 for duty. He was based at Pearl Harbor, Territory of Hawaii. December 7, 1941 “Battle-of-Pearl Harbor” the Commencement of WWII, when the Emperor of Japan’s Naval Aviators launched a devastating, surprise attack on Oahu U.S. Naval Base, and other Military Installations. The USS Oklahoma with her Shipmate’s, lay moored on Ford Island sustained, multiple aerial torpedo hits, causing it to capsize. He was fatally wounded during, this “Historical Battle” and interred in the Oahu Nuuanu Cemetery, Territory of Hawaii. In remembrance of the brave, his name is permanently inscribed in the tablets of the missing, memorialized at Honolulu Memorial Location: Honolulu, Hawaii. In August of 2019, personnel from the Defense Prisoners of War/Missing in Action Accounting Agency in Hawaii disinterred an unknown from Oahu Cemetery and transferred the remains to their Honolulu’s laboratory for analysis, where he was identified. The family of this Seaman requested that he be buried, with Military Honors at Honolulu Memorial Cemetery, with interment July 13, 2021, located in Honolulu, Hawaii. In his Memory, this American Patriot was awarded the Purple Heart posthumously for his Heroism, and ultimate sacrifice. He served his Country with Pride and Honor.