World War II Honoree

Waverly Bernard Woodson, Jr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Honored By

Pearl Thomas

Relationship

A Grateful American

He enlisted in the US Army on December 15, 1942. He trained as a combat medic and was assigned to the 320th Barrage Balloon Battalion and was deployed to England, On June 6, 1944, his battalion participated in the Battle of Normandy as part of the First United Army; it was the only African American battalion to participate. While landing on Omaha Beach, his landing craft tank was hit by a naval mine and he suffered shrapnel injuries. After having his wounds treated, he and other medics sat up a field medical hospital and for the next 30 hours treated wounded soldiers. Received the Distinguished Service Cross and Purple Heart.