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Note: Alias:<ALIA> /Red/ William Howard Woodward, referred to as Howard by his family, grew up in Pine Grove, St. Helena Parish, Louisiana. Howard was delivered at home by his paternal grandfather, Dr. William Thomas Woodward, M.D., and was the third child born and the first son of fifteen children. There were two sisters born before him that died in infancy. When Howard was born, his mother Nannie was extremely protective of him, carrying him around, probably never letting him out of her sight for long, therefore, Howard didn't learn to walk until he was exactly one year old. Howard was his "mother's eyes", and from the beginning of his first days of life, strong bonds of love were formed between the two. Twelve more children were born to Nannie and Jim Woodward, and they felt truly blessed and indeed loved their other children, but Howard remained the apple of his mother's eyes. He was a beautiful, healthy baby, probably a bit spoiled by his mother. Howard had big blue eyes, a very fair complexion, and naturally curly red hair that his mother let grow a bit too long, according to Dr. Woodward. In 1905, when Howard was four years old, his paternal grandfather, Dr. Woodward took it upon himself to cut Howard's long curly hair. Nannie was horrified and cried because all of Howard's beautiful red curls were gone. It took a while for Nannie to forgive Dr. Woodward, but in time she did. When Howard was just five years old, Dr. Woodward died of a heart attack, and he was to remember very little about his grandfather. Jim and Nannie moved several times in those years, finally building a house in Pine Grove, on land Nannie inherited from her father, Thomas William Nesom. Life for the Woodward family was hard as they were extremely poor. Howard's father, James Pleasant (Jim) was a farmer, but because he suffered with tuberculosis, he was a sickly man. Nannie had her hands full taking care of their thirteen children, cooking, cleaning, and sewing the children's clothes from feed sacks. They lived off the land with Jim hunting game to put food on the table, and vegetables from the garden, but it was never enough to feed a family of fifteen. So, Howard reasoned that he would be of more help to his family if he joined the Navy, and soon after joining, he began sending money home. On October 3, 1919, Howard at the age of 17, (just two months before his 18th birthday) enlisted as an Apprentice Seaman, in the United States Navy at New Orleans, Louisiana for two years. Born: December 9, 1901(fibbed about age in order to join & told the Navy he was born in 1900) has produced satisfactory evidence of United States Citizenship qualifications (state dates appointments and certificates issued). Verified. Description of Howard Woodward: Height: 5 ft. 6 in. Weight: 112 lbs. Eyes: Blue, Hair: Red, Complexion: Ruddy. Personal marks, etc., P.S. right deltoid, S. L. base left thumb, R. S. left thigh, want L2 right fore arm, C.S. Sandal region, R.S. left leg post. Is physically qualified for reenlistment, by: Lieutenant Robert W. Thomas, M.C., U.S.N. and Medical Officer. Service (vessels and stations served on, including dates and campaigns and engagements) Howard was stationed for one year at the Naval Training Station at San Francisco, from October 3, 1919, until March 18, 1920. From March 18, 1920 to August 10, 1920, Howard served aboard the Ship USS Brooklyn. From August 10, 1920 to July 22, 1921, he served aboard the USS Aaron Ward (132). Ratings held: Apprentice Seaman; Seaman Second Class; Seaman; Seaman First Class. Howard boarded ship and sailed to far away places, places he would have never seen if he hadn't joined the Navy.
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