Current:Home > MarketsFamily of Black World War II combat medic will finally receive his medal for heroism-DB Wealth Institute B2 Reviews & Ratings
Family of Black World War II combat medic will finally receive his medal for heroism
lotradecoin contracts View Date:2024-12-26 05:18:45
WASHINGTON (AP) — Waverly B. Woodson Jr., who was part of the only African American combat unit involved in the D-Day invasion during World War II, spent more than a day treating wounded troops under heavy German fire — all while injured himself. Decades later, his family is receiving the Distinguished Service Cross he was awarded posthumously for his heroism.
Woodson, who died in 2005, received the second-highest honor that can be bestowed on a member of the Army in June, just days before the 80th anniversary of Allied troops’ landing in Normandy, France.
His widow, Joann, his son Steve and other family will be presented with the medal Tuesday during a ceremony in Washington hosted by Maryland Sen. Chris Van Hollen.
The award marked an important milestone in a yearslong campaign by his widow, Van Hollen and Woodson’s supporters in the military who have pushed for greater recognition of his efforts that day. Ultimately, they would like to see him honored with the Medal of Honor, the highest military decoration that can be awarded by the U.S. government and one long denied to Black troops who served in World War II.
If Woodson is awarded the Medal of Honor, it would be the “final step in the decades-long pursuit of justice and the recognition befitting of Woodson’s valor,” Van Hollen said in a statement.
Troops from Woodson’s former unit, First Army, took the Distinguished Service Cross — which is awarded for extraordinary heroism — to France and in an intimate ceremony laid the medal in the sands of Omaha Beach, where a 21-year-old Woodson came ashore decades earlier.
At a time when the U.S. military was still segregated by race, about 2,000 African American troops are believed to have taken part in the invasion that proved to be a turning point in pushing back the Nazis and eventually ending World War II.
On June 6, 1944, Woodson’s unit, the 320th Barrage Balloon Battalion, was responsible for setting up balloons to deter enemy planes. Two shells hit his landing craft, and he was wounded before even getting to the beach.
After the vessel lost power, it was pushed toward the shore by the tide, and Woodson likely had to wade ashore under intense enemy fire.
He spoke to the AP in 1994 about that day.
“The tide brought us in, and that’s when the 88s hit us,” he said of the German 88mm guns. “They were murder. Of our 26 Navy personnel, there was only one left. They raked the whole top of the ship and killed all the crew. Then they started with the mortar shells.”
For the next 30 hours, Woodson treated 200 wounded men — all while small arms and artillery fire pummeled the beach. Eventually, he collapsed from his injuries and blood loss, according to accounts of his service. At the time, he was awarded the Bronze Star.
In an era of intense racial discrimination, not a single one of the 1.2 million Black Americans who served in the military during World War II was awarded the Medal of Honor. It wasn’t until the early 1990s that the Army commissioned a study to analyze whether Black troops had been unjustly overlooked.
Ultimately, seven Black World War II troops were awarded the Medal of Honor in 1997.
At the time, Woodson was considered for the award and he was interviewed. But, officials wrote, his decoration case file couldn’t be found, and his personnel records were destroyed in a 1973 fire at a military records facility.
Woodson’s supporters believe not just that he is worthy of the Medal of Honor but that there was a recommendation at the time to award it to him that has been lost.
veryGood! (4)
Related
- CPI report for July is out: What does latest data mean for the US economy?
- House passes bipartisan tax bill to expand child tax credit
- Alec Baldwin pleads not guilty to involuntary manslaughter charge in fatal film set shooting
- Charges, counter charges as divorce between Miami Dolphins, Vic Fangio turns messy
- Justice Department defends Boeing plea deal against criticism by 737 Max crash victims’ families
- John Podesta named senior Biden climate adviser as John Kerry steps down as climate envoy
- Wheel of Fortune Fans Are Spinning Over $40,000 Prize Ruling in Final Puzzle
- At least 30 journalists, lawyers and activists hacked with Pegasus in Jordan, forensic probe finds
- A weatherman had a panic attack live on air. What it teaches us.
- Hinton Battle, who played Scarecrow in Broadway's 'The Wiz,' dies at 67 after long illness
Ranking
- A teen was falling asleep during a courtroom field trip. She ended up in cuffs and jail clothes
- Japanese flight controllers re-establish contact with tipped-over SLIM moon lander
- Woman arrested at airport in Colombia with 130 endangered poisonous frogs worth $130,000
- Is Elon Musk overpaid? Why a Delaware judge struck down Tesla CEO's $55 billion payday
- Hurricane Ernesto aims for Bermuda after leaving many in Puerto Rico without power or water
- Nicole Snooki Polizzi's Body Positivity Message Will Inspire Your Wellness Journey
- Jennifer Lopez, Lady Gaga and More Stars Whose Daring Grammys Looks Hit All the Right Notes
- Revenge porn bill backed by former candidate Susanna Gibson advances
Recommendation
-
Jim Harbaugh wants to hire Colin Kaepernick to Chargers' coaching staff. Will the QB bite?
-
A Dallas pastor is stepping into Jesse Jackson’s role as leader of his Rainbow PUSH Coalition
-
At least 30 journalists, lawyers and activists hacked with Pegasus in Jordan, forensic probe finds
-
Margot Robbie breaks silence on best actress Oscar snub: There's no way to feel sad when you know you're this blessed
-
Don't be fooled by the name and packaging: Fruit snacks are rarely good for you. Here's why.
-
What you need to know about the origins of Black History Month
-
'Mr. & Mrs. Smith' are back — so are the fights and bewitching on-screen chemistry
-
What you need to know about the origins of Black History Month
Tags
-
lotradecoin demo account features
lotradecoin high-volume trader discounts
lotradecoin ongoing promotions and bonuses
lotradecoin integration with payment systems
lotradecoin app download and installation
lotradecoin margin trading explained
lotradecoin updates
lotradecoin profitability
lotradecoin featureset