Pictures of Joseph J. Woodford
Page 8
Compiled by his son Joseph John Woodford II

Marine Cemetery on Bougainville

January 12th, 1944, Raiders last day on Bougainville

All Marine Raider Battalions were disbanded on February 1st, 1944. Most were formed into the 4th Marines, many others were sent various Marine units. Joe went to the 5th Marine Division.

On D-day the 28th Marine Regiment landed on Green Beach, near the base of Mt. Suribachi, Iwo Jima. Sgt. Joe Woodford was in the 5th wave. The first day they crossed the island at narrowest point isolating Suribachi from the rest of  the Japanese defenders to the north.They spent a cold sleepless night fighting infiltrators.

The next day the 28th Marines turned toward the mountain fortress with orders to take it. Sgt. Joe Woodford was wounded inaction by  mortar fire on D+1 (February 20, 1945) during the attack on Mt.  Suribachi. He was evacuated to  one of three offshore hospital  ships. The wounds were a ticket back home and the Officers Candidate School in Quantico, Virginia.

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