WASHINGTON — 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.
After decades of waiting, the family of a Black World War II combat medic is finally set to receive a long-awaited medal for his heroism. The story of Army medic Waverly Woodson Jr. is one of bravery, sacrifice, and resilience in the face of adversity.
Woodson served in the 320th Barrage Balloon Battalion, a segregated unit that played a crucial role in the D-Day invasion of Normandy on June 6, 1944. Despite facing discrimination and segregation in the military, Woodson and his fellow Black soldiers fought valiantly alongside their white counterparts to help secure victory in Europe.
During the D-Day invasion, Woodson tended to wounded soldiers under heavy enemy fire, risking his own life to save others. Despite being injured himself, he continued to provide medical care to his comrades, demonstrating extraordinary courage and selflessness in the heat of battle.
For years, Woodson’s family has been advocating for him to receive the recognition he deserves for his heroic actions. Thanks to their efforts and the support of lawmakers and military officials, Woodson is now set to posthumously receive the Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest military award for valor.
The long-overdue recognition of Woodson’s heroism serves as a reminder of the sacrifices made by Black soldiers during World War II and the ongoing fight for equality and justice in the armed forces. It also highlights the importance of honoring the contributions of all service members, regardless of their race or background.
As we commemorate the bravery and sacrifice of Waverly Woodson Jr. and his fellow Black soldiers, let us also reflect on the progress that has been made in promoting diversity and inclusion in the military, while recognizing that there is still work to be done to ensure that all service members are treated with the respect and recognition they deserve.
