Waverly B. Woodson Jr.'s family will finally receive his Distinguished Service Cross, an award for extraordinary heroism, for his actions during World War II. Woodson, a Black combat medic, treated 200 troops on D-Day under heavy German fire despite being injured himself. His family and supporters have campaigned for greater recognition of his efforts, with the ultimate goal of him receiving the Medal of Honor, the highest military decoration in the U.S.
Woodson's unit, the 320th Barrage Balloon Battalion, was responsible for setting up balloons to deter enemy planes on June 6, 1944. He was wounded before even getting to the beach and spent the next 30 hours treating wounded men while under fire. Woodson was awarded the Bronze Star at the time, but his decoration case file and personnel records were lost.
In the early 1990s, the Army commissioned a study to analyze whether Black troops had been unjustly overlooked for the Medal of Honor. Woodson was considered for the award in 1997, but his records were not found. His supporters believe he is worthy of the Medal of Honor and that a recommendation for the award was lost.
The Distinguished Service Cross was presented to Woodson's family during a ceremony in Washington hosted by Maryland Sen. Chris Van Hollen. The award is a significant milestone in the decades-long pursuit of justice and recognition for Woodson's valor.
