b. 21/06/1921 Barberton, Ohio. d. 06/06/1945 near Tabio, Philippines.
DATE OF MOH ACTION: 06/06/1945 near Tabio, Philippines.
Howard E Woodford MOH
World War II Medal of Honor Recipient. Born in Barberton, Ohio, he served as a Staff Sergeant in the 130th Infantry, 33rd Infantry Division, US Army. At Tabio, Luzon, Philippines, June 6, 1944, Staff Sergeant Woodford volunteered to investigate the delay in a scheduled attack on a forward Japanese battalion. Reaching his unit’s lead company under intense enemy fire, he took command of the company, evacuated the wounded and exposed himself to enemy fire to reveal there positions. He personally accounted for taking out two hostile machine gunners and declined to return to his battalion in order to organize a defense for the night. Before the dawn on June 7, the enemy launched a fierce attack. Though wounded, Staff Sergeant Woodford remained at his post calling for mortar support and encouraged the attacking enemy. At daybreak, he was found dead in his foxhole with 37 enemy dead in and around his position. For holding a vital objective and being responsible for the success of a important general advance, he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.
MOH CITATION:
He volunteered to investigate the delay in a scheduled attack by an attached guerrilla battalion. Reaching the line of departure, he found that the lead company, in combat for the first time, was immobilized by intense enemy mortar, machine-gun, and rifle fire which had caused casualties to key personnel. Knowing that further failure to advance would endanger the flanks of adjacent units as well as delay capture of the objective, he immediately took command of the company, evacuated the wounded, reorganized the unit under fire, and prepared to attack. He repeatedly exposed himself to draw revealing fire from the Japanese strongpoints and then moved forward with a five-man covering force to determine exact enemy positions. Although intense enemy machine-gun fire killed two and wounded his other three men, S/Sgt. Woodford resolutely continued his patrol before returning to the company. Then, against bitter resistance, he guided the guerrillas up a barren hill and captured the objective, personally accounting for two hostile machine gunners and courageously reconnoitering strong defensive positions before directing neutralizing fire. After organizing a perimeter defense for the night, he was given permission by radio to return to his battalion, but, feeling that he was needed to maintain proper control, he chose to remain with the guerrillas. Before dawn the next morning the enemy launched a fierce suicide attack with mortars, grenades, and small-arms fire, and infiltrated through the perimeter. Though wounded by a grenade, S/Sgt. Woodford remained at his post calling for mortar support until bullets knocked out his radio. Then, seizing a rifle he began working his way around the perimeter, encouraging the men until he reached a weak spot where two guerrillas had been killed. Filling the gap himself, he fought off the enemy. At daybreak he was found dead in his foxhole, but 37 enemy dead were lying in and around his position. By his daring, skillful, and inspiring leadership as well as by his gallant determination to search out and kill the enemy, S/Sgt. Woodford led an inexperienced unit in capturing and securing a vital objective and was responsible for the successful continuance of a vitally important general advance.
BURIAL LOCATION: GREENLAWN MEMORIAL PARK, AKRON, OHIO.
SECTION I, LOT 141, GRAVE 3.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: FAMILY.
