William F. Woodcock
Humboldt Standard
Saturday, February 17, 1945 pg. 3 “Wounded in Action: Philippine Area” Participating in the Philippine invasion, Staff Sgt. William Woodcock has been wounded in the right side and is receiving hospital care in the Mariannas. His parents are Mr. and Mrs. P. F. Woodcock of 2517 I street. Humboldt Standard
Monday, June 18, 1945 pg. 3 “Wounded Eurekan Rejoins Outfit” WITH THE 7TH INFANTRY DIVISION ON OKINAWA, T/Sgt. William F. Woodcock, 22, of Eureka, California, a platoon sergeant in a rifle company of the 3rd battalion of the 184th Infantry, has returned to his old outfit on Okinawa after being discharged from an Army hospital on Saipan where he was evacuated after being wounded while fighting in the Camotes island group in the Philippines. He was awarded the Silver Star medal for gallantry in action against the enemy in the Philippines, and the Purple Heart for the wounds received there. Entering the Army in March, 191, soon after graduating from Eureka High school. His parents are Mr. and Mrs. P. F. Woodcock of 2617 I street. He had participated in the Aleutians, Marshalls and Leye campaigns before arriving in Okinawa. Humboldt Standard
Thursday, July 26, 1945 pg. 3 “Killed In Action: Okinawa Battle” A telegram from the War Department reporting that their son, T/Sgt. William Freeman Woodcock had been killed in action on Okinawa has been received by Mr. and Mrs. P. F. Woodcock. He was killed on June 18, the telegram disclosed. Sgt. Woodcock was an honor student of the graduating class of 1940 at the Eureka High school. He had seen much service and had accumulated a total of 107 discharge points and had expected to be released from duty soon. He was a member of Company 1 184th Infantry, of the National Guard, leaving here with that unit in March, 1941. Serving for a time with the Western Defense Command, his outfit, under the command of William Walker (now Lt. Col. Walker) was later incorporated into the Seventh Division, at the time training for overseas duty at Camp Ord. They were shipped to the Aleutians and spent some time at Kiska. Later the Seventh Division was sent to the Hawaiian Islands where further training was done. Sgt. Woodcock took part in the battles of Kwajalein, the entire Leyte campaign and later volunteered for a special mission to the Camotes Islands. He was wounded there and received the Silver Star for gallantry in action. He was hospitalized for a time of Sapian, later rejoining the Seventh for the Okinawa invasion. In addition to the Silver Star, he was entitled to wear the Purple Heart, the Combat Infantryman’s Badge, battle stars, American Defense, Asiatic-Pacific and Philippine Liberation ribbons. Another son of Mr. and Mrs. Woodcock, Richard, is soon to enter the army, and their daughter, Rosellen, is a staff sergeant in the Marines, stationed in Washington, D. C. She is expected to arrive home today, having come from the east by plane for a 20-day furlough. |