Grave marker for Woodrow
W. Millsaps in Section 2 Site 279 of the Fort Mitchell National
Cemetery, Fort Mitchell (Russell county) Alabama.
Woodrow enlisted in the
Army in the late 1930's and appears in the 1940 Census as a Sergeant,
living in the same barracks as Royal Taylor, at Ft. Benning, GA. The
unit designation was not recorded.
In April of that same
year, Sergeant Taylor was called to the Parachute School to meet with
Major Roy Lindquist, his prior commander when he had been in B Company,
29th Infantry. Lindquist offered him the 1st Sgt role for a new unit to
be formed.Millsaps apparently declined the
job but was soon sent to OCS and graduated as a 2nd Lt. in December
1940.
1st Lt Millsaps
jumped into Normandy and Holland. Between the two campaigns he
earned the Silver Star with Oak Leaf Cluster. He also was awarded
the Combat Infantryman Badge and the Bronze Service Arrowhead Device,
both for action during Normandy, France Campaign, 6 June 1944 to 9 July
1944.He was promoted to
Captain on 20 November 1944.
He also saw duty
during the Korean Conflict and 18 Nov 1950
he was "Seriously wounded in action by missile". He was able to
return to duty on 12 December 1950.Lt. Col. Millsaps
retired on 30 April 1957. |