WOODRUFF ALBERT R #1

LTC Albert R. Woodruff was a VHPA member who died after his tour in Vietnam on 06/24/2007 at the age of 74.4 from Heart failure
Mesa, AZ
Flight Class 58-3
Date of Birth 01/11/1933
Served in the U.S. Army
Served in Vietnam with HHB/2/20 ARA 1 CAV in 65-66, 116 AHC in 68, HHC 269 CAB in 68
Call signs in Vietnam FALCON 3, HORNET 6
This information was provided by Pat Ronan, Joanne Woodruff (wife), SSN search

More detail on this person: Albert Rhea "AL" Woodruff (LTC USA Ret.) Passed away at his home in Mesa, AZ. 24 Jun 2007. Of congestive Heart Failure.

Al entered the US Army in Feb, 1953 as an Enlisted man. Jan 1954 Al was accepted into The Field Artillery School, OCS Program and graduating in June 1954 as the Distinguished Military Graduate where upon graduation was assigned to Ft. Sill 52d, Field Arty Grp. As the Cdr. Commo Platoon until attending the Field Arty Officers Course in June 1957. July 1957 Al was assigned to Camp Gary, Texas and on to Ft.Rucker, Alabama for Initial Flight Training, Fixed Wing, and Graduating Class 57-17.

After assignments as Platoon Intel Officer with the 101st Avn Co in 1958-1959, Al returned to Ft Rucker January 1959 for Rotary Wing Certification. Class 58-3.

After Graduation Al was assigned to 3rd Light Aviation Section in Korea where he was designated the Corps Commanders Pilot.

September 1960 Al attended the Field Artillery Advanced Officer Course. Followed by a tour at Fort Bliss, TX as Staff Aviator and Maintenance Officer

March 1963, Al was assigned to Ft. Rucker as Flight Commander/ Instructor Pilot, Instrument Flight Training Branch..

July 1965 Al was assigned to 2nd Bn. (ARA) 20th Artillery, Vietnam as Operations Officer

July 1966 Al returned to CONUS and was assigned to Co. A (Assault Helicopter), 82nd Avn Bn., Ft Bragg, NC as, Commander

January 1968 Maj. Al Woodruff was reassigned to Vietnam for his second tour this time as Commander of 116th AHC "Hornets".

During his assignment with the 116th AHC Al was promoted to LTC. And without a lot of fanfare met his wife Joanne and his Bn. Cdr. in Saigon for a very brief promotion ceremony and Mini-R&R.

July 1968 Al assumed the position of 269th Cbt. Avn Bn. S3 where he planned and Directed Bn. Size Combat Assaults and Assault Support Operations until December 1968.

After returning to CONUS in Dec 1968 until his retirement from active Duty in June 1975, Al was assigned to Several Joint High Level positions at Continental Army Command, Combat Development Command and TRADOC.

Al received his BS Degree from Hampton Institute in Business Management, w/ High Honors in Dec 1971, and his MS, Education from Old Dominion in Dec 1975.

Al logged 4741 hours of flight time of which 1020 were Combat Hrs. He was awarded 2, DFCs, 2 BSM, 29 Air Medal, Master Army Aviator Badge and a host of Fire Guard Badges.

Al is survived by his wife Joanne of nearly 50 years, Two Sons, Charlton and Kevin, Two Grandsons, 5 Adopted Grandchildren and a

Great Grandchild.

Al and Joanne were frequent attendees at VHPA Reunions and always looked forward to being with his men. And we sure looked forward to being with Hornet 6.

See ya on the LZ Boss. Ya Done Good!

This information was last updated 05/18/2016

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Date posted on this site: 03/10/2024


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