USS Woodson

Jeff Davis Woodson, born in Autman, Tex., on 10 June 1908, enlisted in the United States Navy on 23 June 1926 at Little Rock, Ark. Earning his first rating as a fireman third class in four months, he served in Aroostook (CM-3) and advanced to the rating of fireman second class on 1 January 1929. That summer, he transferred to an aviation squadron, VJ-1B, and began training as an aviation machinist's mate. In April 1929, he took a reduction in rank to enter the aviation field and became an aviation machinist's mate third class. However, after training at the Naval Air Station, San Diego, and pilot training at the Naval Air Station, Pensacola, he was advanced to the rating of aviation pilot first class.

During the 1930's he served in various patrol and scouting squadrons and even served a tour of duty in Lexington (CV-2). By the late spring of 1937, Woodson had advanced to the rating of chief aviation machinist's mate. During 1940 and 1941, he served successively in VU-1, the destroyer Benham (DD-397), and at the naval air stations located at Norfolk and Pensacola. On 2 September 1941, he joined Torpedo Squadron 8 attached to Hornet (CV-8). For the next few months, he and his ship conducted training out of Norfolk. That routine continued after the attack on Pearl Harbor on 7 December.

On 4 March 1942, his ship put to sea and headed for San Diego, Calif., where she arrived on the 20th. With his TBD stored below decks with the rest of the carrier's own aircraft complement, Chief Woodson departed the west coast in Hornet on 2 April with her deck loaded with 16 Army B-25 bombers, the celebrated Halsey-Doolittle Tokyo raiders. Five days out to sea, Chief Woodson was temporarily promoted to the rank of lieutenant (junior grade). Six days after that, Hornet launched her extra flock for their raid against Tokyo and headed for Oahu. A week later, he rode Hornet into Pearl Harbor.

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From the Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, compiled by the Naval History and Heritage Command (Woodson (DE-359)). A work of the United States Government, in the public domain.