LEBANON JUNCTION, KY, USA
U.S. Army
SSG, COMPANY A, 1ST BATTALION, 67TH ARMOR, 2 BCT, FORT CARSON, CO
MOSUL, IRAQ 04/10/2009
SSG Gary Lee Woods, Jr., from Lebanon Junction, Kentucky, entered into the United States Army on February 19, 2003, and attended Basic and Advanced Individual Training at Fort Knox, KY, as a 19K Tanker. Upon completion of Advance Training, SSG Woods was assigned to Heavy Company, 2nd squadron, 3rd Armored Calvary Regiment at Fort Carson, Colorado. SSG Woods deployed with the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom from August 2003 to March 2004 and from March 2005 to February 2006. SSG woods was later assigned to Delta and Alpha Companies of the 1st Battalion, 67th Armor Regiment and deployed in support of Iraqi Freedom in September 2008.
SSG Woods is a graduate of Basic and Advanced Individual Training, the Force XXI Battlefield Command, Brigade and Below (FBCB2) Leaders course, and is Level 1 Combatives certified. SSG Woods’ Awards and decoration include the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart, the Army Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Army Achievement Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, the Valorous Unit Award, the Army Good Conduct Medal 2nd Award, the National Defense Service Medal, Iraqi Campaign Medal with Bronze Service Star, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and the Combat Action Badge.
My name is Becky Woods Johnson, I am SSG Gary Lee Woods Jrs mom. He was such a talented young man he played guitar, drums, trumpet, trombone, piano (or just anything he would pick up!!) He had a beautiful voice and in his 1st year of choir he had a solo in the concert! He took JROTC in high school and that is where his love for the military started.
I have been told that for a 24 year old and having only been in the Army for 6 years he was a highly decorated soldier. He was a very proud young man but yet very humble – He was very determined – if he put his head to it he would achieve his goal – very competitive – very young at heart but very wise for his age!
I have so many “proudest” moments for my son – but the first one that comes to mind was when his First Sergeant told me that he filled my sons position with 3 soldiers and they – all combined – could not handle the job as well as my son did all on his own!
SSG Woods was killed in action in Mosul, Iraq on April 10, 2009.
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