Military

This Black Soldier Aided Hundreds at Omaha Beach but Was Denied the Medal of Honor

February 1, 2021Matt Fratus
Waverly Woodson, Black soldier denied Medal of Honor coffee or die

Waverly “Woody” Woodson Jr. was denied the Medal of Honor because of racism. Screenshot from YouTube.

On D-Day, June 6, 1944, Sgt. Waverly “Woody” Woodson Jr. was one of five medics aboard a landing craft tank. He and other members from the 320th Very Low Altitude Barrage Balloon Battalion — the only all-Black combat unit to land at Omaha and Utah beaches — were to provide protection above the beachhead to prevent German aircraft from strafing the ground troops and ships. 


As they neared the coastline of Normandy, France, with the third wave to assault Omaha Beach, the Germans opened fire. “They were shelling the devil out of us,” Woodson recalled. “At the same time, we went over two submerged mines. The whole thing jumped out of the water.” 


The explosion killed and wounded several men. Shrapnel wounded Woodson’s buttocks and inner right thigh. He took a bandage and wrapped it around his leg wound, then grabbed his medical bag and submerged into the water to help others in need.


Waverly Johnson denied Medal of Honor
Sgt. Waverly “Woody” Woodson Jr., a medic from the only all-Black combat unit to land at Omaha and Utah beaches, was denied a Medal of Honor for his actions. The 320th Battalion did score a confirmed “kill” by cutting off the wing of a Junkers Ju-88 fighter-bomber over Omaha Beach on D-Day. Screenshot from YouTube.

He followed behind a Sherman tank with three men inside as they went ashore. “That’s when an 88 hit it,” Woodson told The Baltimore Sun. “Blew that turret apart.”


Woodson dodged machine gun fire that spit sand into the air and linked up with a group of frightened soldiers. Some of the officers tried to organize an assault to storm the bluffs where the Germans were entrenched, but the attempts were futile.


“They were scared as hell,” Woodson remembered. “Some of them had weapons. Some of them didn’t. They were shouting. They were mad as hell. And some were praying. They were like most men — they loved life.”


Woodson set up a trauma and medical station using the cover of a rocky embankment to shield them from German gunfire. For the next 30 hours, he treated the wounded and the dying. He extracted bullets and patched the holes. He dispensed blood plasma and even amputated a right foot. Exhausted, he still managed to resuscitate four drowning men before he collapsed. 


A 320th Barrage Balloon crew in action. Cpl. A. Johnson of Houston, Texas, walks a very low altitude balloon toward a winch with help from two men in his crew on Omaha Beach. The VLA balloons flew up to 2,000 feet. Photo courtesy of the National Archives and Records Administration.

The newspapers learned about his heroism and called him the “No. 1 Invasion Hero.” He was recommended for the Medal of Honor — credited for actions providing aid to an estimated 200 soldiers — but was denied because he was Black. He ultimately was awarded the Bronze Star, the fourth-highest medal of valor, and the Purple Heart. 


But it wasn’t the first time Woodson experienced racism in the military. 


Before he participated in the largest amphibious invasion in military history, the former pre-med student of Pennsylvania’s Lincoln University left college to join the US Army as an officer. He successfully completed Officer Candidate School for Anti-Aircraft Artillery (AAA) but was reassigned to a segregated unit because the AAA corps heavily favored whites. 


In the US military, racism and segregation were motivating factors for not properly recognizing African Americans and other minority service members for the merits they deserved. The Medal of Honor was awarded to zero African Americans during or immediately after World War II.


A petition on change.org has been created to award Woodson the Medal of Honor, and it has since gained support from members of the Reddit community. Woodson, however, would have to receive it posthumously, as he died on Aug. 12, 2005, at age 83.



Matt Fratus
Matt Fratus

Matt Fratus is a history staff writer for Coffee or Die. He prides himself on uncovering the most fascinating tales of history by sharing them through any means of engaging storytelling. He writes for his micro-blog @LateNightHistory on Instagram, where he shares the story behind the image. He is also the host of the Late Night History podcast. When not writing about history, Matt enjoys volunteering for One More Wave and rooting for Boston sports teams.

More from Coffee or Die Magazine
Coffee Or Die Photo
From the Team Room to Team Room Design: An Operator’s Creative Journey

BRCC partners with Team Room Design for an exclusive T-shirt release!

Coffee Or Die Photo
Get Your Viking On: The Exclusive 30 Sec Out BRCC Shirt Club Design

Thirty Seconds Out has partnered with BRCC for an exclusive shirt design invoking the God of Winter.

Grizzly Forge BRCC shirt
Limited Edition: Grizzly Forge Blades on an Awesome BRCC Shirt

Lucas O'Hara of Grizzly Forge has teamed up with BRCC for a badass, exclusive Shirt Club T-shirt design featuring his most popular knife and tiomahawk.

BRCC Limited Edition Josh Raulerson Blackbeard Skull Shirt
From Naval Service to Creative Canvas: BRCC Veteran Artist Josh Raulerson

Coffee or Die sits down with one of the graphic designers behind Black Rifle Coffee's signature look and vibe.

Medal of Honor is held up.
Biden Will Award Medal of Honor to Army Helicopter Pilot Who Rescued Soldiers in Vietnam Firefight

Biden will award the Medal of Honor to a Vietnam War Army helicopter pilot who risked his life to save a reconnaissance team from almost certain death.

dear jack mandaville
Dear Jack: Which Historic Battle Would You Want To Witness?

Ever wonder how much Jack Mandaville would f*ck sh*t up if he went back in time? The American Revolution didn't even see him coming.

west point time capsule
West Point Time Capsule Yields Centuries-Old Coins

A nearly 200-year-old West Point time capsule that at first appeared to yield little more than dust contains hidden treasure, the US Military Academy said.

  • About Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Careers
Contact Us
Contact Us
© 2024 Coffee or Die Magazine. All Rights Reserved