Korean War Legacy Project

William Eugene Woodward

Bio

William Eugene Woodward is a distinguished veteran from Oklahoma who served in the 5th Machine Gun Platoon during the Korean War. He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1948 and was chosen to be the squad leader of over fifty troops during his basic training at Camp Pendleton. After being wounded in Korea, he returned to the United States with forty-two other wounded Marines and received treatment at Naval Hospital Corpus Christi, Naval Hospital Yokosuka, and Oak Knoll Naval Hospital. He graduated from Arkansas Tech in 1956 and went on to have a thirty-seven year career with the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Department.

Video Clips

U.S. Marine Corps

William Eugene Woodward remembers the rigorous physical demands he faced during his basic training at Camp Pendleton. He was chosen to be the squad leader of over fifty troops during his time in boot camp. Later, he was assigned to the 5th Machine Gun Platoon and served in Korea from 1950 to 1951.

Tags: Basic training,Front lines,Home front,Pride,Weapons

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Wounded and Returning Home

After being wounded in Korea, William Eugene Woodward returned to the United States with forty-two other wounded Marines for treatment. When he disembarked the naval ship in San Francisco, he was overwhelmed with joy and kissed the deck in gratitude to be home. He remembers how people expressed their gratitude for his service in Korea.

Tags: Civilians,Front lines,Home front,Pride,Rest and Relaxation (R&R)

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Importance of the U.S. Air Force

William Eugene Woodward discusses the significant impact that the United States Air Force had during the wars of the twentieth century. He recalls a personal experience where he had a near miss with a U.S. fighter plane in Korea. He expresses his patriotism and pride in serving his country during the Korean War.

Tags: Chinese,Civilians,Fear,Front lines,Impressions of Korea,Message to Students,Physical destruction,Pride,Weapons

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