Congressman Brian Higgins (NY-26) celebrated the 100th birthday of World War II veteran Paul Woods, recognizing his distinguished military service. Despite experiencing segregation first-hand throughout his lifetime, Woods dedicated his life to serving his country, community, and family.
Speaking on the House floor in honor of Woods, Congressman Higgins stated, “Mr. Woods joined the segregated United States Army in 1941. During the war, he bravely fought for America’s freedoms abroad, while subjected to racism and inequality at home. Mr. Woods is known to say: ‘A bullet knows no race, rank, or status. We were all brothers on the battlefield.’ On February 20th Mr. Woods will celebrate his 100th birthday. It is my honor to celebrate this American hero and to thank him for his selfless service on behalf of a grateful nation.”
Born in Bazemore, Alabama on February 20, 1923, Woods grew up during an era marked by discrimination and recalls having to walk 10 miles to receive an education in a one-room school house. After losing his father at age seven, he and his 13 siblings were split up and raised by various family members.
In 1941 at age 17, Woods joined the segregated U.S. Army as a member of the last Calvary Unit. While serving as a truck driver transporting ammunition to the front lines in Australia, he and thousands of other Black soldiers lived in tents on Warwick Farm Racecourse, a horseracing track, while white soldiers were housed in barracks. Woods went on to serve in the Pacific Theater as one of the troops deployed from a landing craft during an amphibious landing to liberate the Philippines. Serving until 1945, he earned the World War II Victory Medal, Presidential Unit Citation, Philippine Liberation Medal with three Bronze Stars, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with three campaign stars, and a WWII Honorable Discharge Lapel Button.
After returning home, Woods and his wife Mary moved to Buffalo in 1953 where he began working at Bethlehem Steel as a chipper. Determined to provide for his 15 children, he worked two shifts a day, sometimes three days a week for 31 years until the plant closed. Thanks to his hard work and dedication, his family was well cared for. He and his family built a house on from the ground up on five acres of land in Angola in 1966 and all of his children were able to attend college, including his daughter Paulette, an active member of the Buffalo Public Schools Board of Education, who is also a United States Army veteran.
In 2012, Woods and 30 other World War II veterans participated in an Honor Flight to the World War II Memorial in Washington, DC. Five years later Wish of a Lifetime, an organization fulfilling the life-long wishes of the greatest generation, sponsored a trip to Australia, allowing Woods to revisit the exact location of his service and meet the U.S. Consul General.
Woods and his wife have 28 grandchildren,18 great-grandchildren, and one great great-grandchild. They were also licensed foster care providers through Randolph Child and Adolescent Services. In 1997 they were named Foster Parents of the Year.
Paul Woods serves as the World War II Coordinator for the Jesse Clipper American Legion Post Number 430. Congressman Higgins previously honored his efforts to serve local veterans in February 2021.
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