Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2012
Former Chowchilla resident Henry Woods fought in Phu Nhon
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In March of 1971, Henry L. Woods was engaged with fellow soldiers in one of the fiercest fights of the Vietnam War during the siege of Phu Nhon, known to all as "LZ (Landing Zone) Lonely."
Henry was born on Nov. 18, 1944, in Elgin, Okla. The family moved to California and settled in the Plainsburg area, later moving to Dos Palos. Henry graduated from Dos Palos High School in 1963. He worked in agriculture and in the maintenance department at Chowchilla High School until he entered the U.S. Army in December 1969.
Henry completed basic training at Fort Ord, where he qualified as a sharpshooter with the M-14 rifle. He was ordered to duty with the 984th Military Police Co. at Fort Carson, Colo. It was during his tour at Fort Carson that he was involved in an incident with a movie actress. While on duty as a sentry, he denied entrance to Jane Fonda to a restricted area.
Henry was transferred to Fort Lewis, Wash., for pre-deployment training for service in Vietnam. In December 1969, he arrived in Saigon and joined the 1st Cavalry in the Central Highlands and was assigned to Company D of the 20th Combat Engineers near Qui Nhon, where he was known as "Woody" by the men in his unit. The unit provided security for a road called QL 14-South. Because of the heavy enemy action, the road was known to the soldiers as "Massacre Highway."
A few months later, the unit was part of a major assault at LZ Black Hawk in the Central Highlands, and Henry was wounded in hand-to-hand fighting. After several weeks of treatment for facial and head injuries, he returned to duty with the combat engineers.
In early 1971, shortly after joining elements of the 101st Airborne for temporary duty, Henry became a door gunner on a helicopter gunship. In mid-February 1971, North Vietnamese Army troops began targeting the U.S. base at Phu Nhon, better known as "LZ Lonely." On March 15, a North Vietnamese force initiated a sustained attack on the eastern part of the base, quickly overrunning South Vietnamese soldiers.
Henry was part of a reinforcement group sent to repel the North Vietnamese. Acting as a door gunner on a gunship, he delivered M-60 machine gun fire on the enemy troops. During a pass over enemy positions, the co-pilot and the other door gunner were killed before the pilot could land the crippled helicopter. On the ground, Henry joined the ground troops and delivered fire upon the enemy. Under heavy fire, he used a fireman's carry to twice transport wounded soldiers to medical help. During the fierce fighting, Henry was stuck by an AK-47 round on the top of his head and was medevacked with other wounded by helicopter to an aid station.
Unknown to Henry until much later, the officer in charge of the mission on Henry's gunship was Norman Schwarzkopf, who would later gain fame as the commander of all U.S. forces in the First Gulf War.
During his treatment for his second wound, Henry exhibited symptoms that in the future would be attributed to exposure to the herbicide Agent Orange. After recuperating from his wound, he was sent back to Fort Ord where he finished his active service before being discharged.
On Veteran's Day in 2003, during a special ceremony in the office of Congressman George Radanovich, Henry Woods finally received medals for his service almost 33 years earlier.
For his service in the U.S. Army, Spc. 4 Henry L. Woods received the National Defense Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with bronze star, Vietnam Campaign Medal with device, two awards of the Purple Heart, the Combat Infantryman's Badge, the Army Aircrew Badge, the Sharpshooter Badge with Auto Rifle Bar and the Sharpshooter Pistol Badge. He has also been honored with recognition by Radanovich and the adjutant of the Montana VFW.
Henry returned to the Chowchilla area and was involved in farming for several years. He also attended Merced College on the GI Bill and earned an associate degree in arts as well as as associate degrees in plant science and mechanized agriculture.
The debilitating effects of the wounds and Agent Orange resulted in a series of hospitalization and surgeries and a 100 percent disability by the Veteran's Administration. He continues to be treated for Agent Orange and post-traumatic stress disorder. Henry now lives in the mountains near Helena, Mont.
Henry has four children — Debbie, Chuck, Eric and Matt — and seven grandchildren. He is a life member of Chowchilla VFW Post 9896, the American Legion, the Military Order of the Purple Heart and Disabled American Veterans. He attends St. John's Lutheran Church in Helena.
