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WOODARD, Stephen L., Pfc. 1947-1968

WOODARD, NELSON, BERKSHIRE EATON

Posted By: S. Bell
Date: 8/10/2013 at 01:28:14

[Waterloo Daily Courier, Waterloo, Iowa, Wednesday, May 22, 1968]

Stephen Woodard Killed in Vietnam

Pfc. Stephen L. Woodard, 21, of 1177 Ridgeway Ave. was killed in Vietnam May 16 when the medical truck in which he was riding hit a land mine near Hue, 30 miles south of the Demilitarized Zone, according to his father Lawrence Woodard. Woodard was in Vietnam for three weeks.

He was a member of "B" Troop, 2nd Battalion, 17th Cavalry of the 101st Airborne Division. He was inducted into the Armed Forces Nov. 6, 1967, and served his basic training in Fort Bliss, Tex. Woodard was then transferred to Fort Knox, Ky., where he received his training as a tank driver and then was assigned to the 101st Airborne Division.

He was born In Waterloo Mar. 11, 1947. He graduated from West Waterloo High School in 1965 and was engaged in many extra-curricular activities during his years in high school, including basketball and chorus. He attended the University of Northern Iowa until his induction into the Army. He had been employed for a short time by the Diesch Construction Co.

Pvt, Woodard was a member of First Presbyterian Church, the Youth Fellowship of the church and the King David Youth Choir.

He was engaged to be married in August of 1969 to Dianna Berkshire of Western Springs, Illinois, when he left for the service.

"He was a jolly kid, fun loving and fun to be with," said his father. "He never had a gun in his hands until he entered the Army."

Pvt. Woodard had written his fiance the day he was killed. "He joked about several things," she recalled. "He sounded so much better than he did before. He joked about the heat, asking what an ice cube looked like. He wanted to know if they ever painted automobiles any other color than olive drab."

Pvt. Woodard is survived by his parents, three brothers: Larry of Chariton, Michael of 168 Oakwood Drive, and Mark, at home; one sister, Barbara, at home; the maternal grandmother, Mrs. James Nelson of Des Moines, and the paternal grandmother, Mrs. Amy Eaton of Uvalde, Texas.

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[Waterloo Daily Courier, Friday, June 7, 1968]

Services for Stephen Lee Woodard, 21, who was killed in Vietnam May 16, when the medical truck in which he was riding hit a land mine near Hue, 30 miles south of the Demilitarized Zone, will be at 1:30 p.m. Monday at the First Presbyterian Church in Waterloo with the pastor Dr. C. Vin White, officiating.

Burial will be a the Waterloo Memorial Park Cemetery. Flag folding and presentations will be by Co. C. First Battalion 410th Infantry Division, Army Reserve. Friends may call at the Kearns-Dykeman Chapel Saturday from 4 to 9 p.m. when the casket will be taken to the church. The casket will not be open at any time.

Woodard is survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence L. Woodard, 1177 Ridgeway Avenue, three brothers: Larry of Chariton, Michael of 1637 Oakwood Drive and Mark, and one sister, Barbara, at home. Also surviving are the maternal grandmother, Mrs. James Nelson of Des Moines, and the paternal grandmother, Mrs. Amy Eaton of Uvalde, Texas.

Woodard was engaged to be married in August of 1969 to Dianna Berkshire of Western Springs, Illinois, when he left for the service.

Friends may make a memorial in his memory to the church.


 

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