African-American medic, who treated injured soldiers during D-Day, is presented with a posthumous Distinguished Service Cross.
Army medic Cpl. Waverly Woodson Jr. served with the 320th Barrage Balloon Battalion, a sole Black unit responsible for deploying balloons to shield soldiers on the shores of Normandy from German fighter planes during D-Day almost 80 years ago. This was reported by CNN earlier.
D-Day, which took place on June 6, 1944, marked the start of the Normandy landings, setting the stage for the Allies' eventual defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II.
Woodson was hurt when the boat he was on hit a mine, and for 30 hours during the assault, he cared for his fellow troops, as per a statement from Van Hollen's office. Following the war, Woodson worked as a clinical pathologist for many years.
He passed away in 2005 at the age of 83, also reported by CNN.
The Distinguished Service Cross is the second highest award given to a member of the Army. Congressmen Van Hollen and other legislators, alongside members of Woodson's family, have been advocating for years to honor Woodson's actions. They believe this did not occur because of his skin color.
"It's a significant moment to acknowledge his bravery so that we can inform his family about his heroism, and also a crucial moment for the country as it confronts its past. It's clear that he did not receive this medal earlier due to the color of his skin," Van Hollen explained to CNN.
Woodson's loved ones expressed their gratitude for the honor.
His wife, 95-year-old Joann Woodson, said, "Waverly would have been honored to be acknowledged for a task he recognized as his duty. However, we all know it was more than just duty; it was his dream to always help those in distress."
The family, much like Van Hollen, plans to continue urging for Woodson to receive the Medal of Honor.
"Maybe this event will aid in further recognition of Woodson's heroism on D-Day for saving the lives of those in need, culminating in the Medal of Honor," Woodson's son, Steve, said in a statement.
In 1997, Woodson was also considered for the Medal of Honor when the initial Black World War II soldiers were granted honors by President Bill Clinton. He was not granted this distinction at the time due to insufficient documentation, according to Van Hollen's office.
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Despite his significant contributions during D-Day as an African-American medic, treating injured soldiers and risking his own life, Woodson never received the Distinguished Service Cross while he was alive. Us, as a nation, are recognizing and honoring his bravery posthumously, acknowledging the potential racial bias that may have prevented this recognition earlier.
