William Eugene Woodward
Bio
William Eugene Woodward is a distinguished veteran from Oklahoma who is part Cherokee and Choctaw. After he ended formal schooling, he 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 three times 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 was discharged in September of 1951. He graduated from Arkansas Tech in 1956 and went on to enjoy 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 recalls how he was chosen to be the squad leader of over fifty troops during his time in boot camp. He shares how he was later assigned to the 5th Machine Gun Platoon and served in Korea from 1950 to 1951.
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Wounded and Returning Home
William Eugene Woodward recounts how, after being wounded in Korea, he returned to the United States with forty-two other wounded Marines for treatment. He recalls how 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.
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Importance of the U.S. Air Force
William Eugene Woodward discusses the significant impact 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.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ic-pMANTCM0&start=1577&end=1730
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https://koreanwarlegacy.org/interviews/william-eugene-woodward#clip-3
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