Herbert J. Woehl

World War II
-
Fallen

County:
Logan

Date of Loss:

Branch of Service:
Army

Rank:
Staff Sergeant

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent:
Company B

Battalion / Task Group / Squadron or equivalent:
27th Infantry Division

Regiment / Group / Brigade:
160th Infantry Regiment

Division / Fleet / Air Force or Equivalent:
40th Infantry Division
Listed on/in the:
Register of North Dakota Veterans World War II 1941-1945 and Korean Conflict 1950-1953, published 1968

Major Battle/Theatre:
Asiatic Pacific Theater

Circumstances:

Killed in action in the Negros Islands, Philippine Islands

Biography:

Herbert Jacob Woehl was born in Wishek, Logan County, North Dakota on November 8, 1917. His family moved to Napoleon, Logan County, North Dakota in 1920, and his mother Carlinia W married John J Rudolph. He entered the United States Army in Los Angeles, California on March 20, 1941, and served in Asiatic Pacific Theater. Staff Sergeant Woehl was killed in action on May 9, 1945, at Negros Islands, Philippines and is buried in Plot A, Row 14, Grave 81, Manila American Cemetery and Memorial, Maila, Capital District, national Capital Region, Philippines.

Sources: Ancestry/Find a Grave

From Military Hall of Honors: 

Herbert Jacob Woehl
Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army

On 9 May 1945, Staff Sergeant Herbert Jacob Woehl was serving with the 160th Infantry Regiment, 40th Infantry Division, U.S. Army in the Pacific Theater of Operations.

On that day, SSG Woehl’s unit was in action against Japanese forces while mopping up on Negros Island, Philippines. SSG Woehl’s courageous actions and extraordinary heroism that day earned him, at the cost of his life, the U.S. Army's second highest award for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross.

Medals, Awards and Badges

Distinguished Service Cross
Silver Star Medal
Purple Heart with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster
Army Good Conduct Medal
American Defense Service Medal
American Campaign Medal
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with Arrowhead Pin and 3 Bronze Stars
World War II Victory Medal
Philippine Presidential Unit Citation
Combat Infantryman Badge

Distinguished Service Cross Citation (Synopsis)

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Staff Sergeant Herbert J. Woehl (ASN: 39230452), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with the 160th Infantry Regiment, 40th Infantry Division, in action against enemy forces on 9 May 1945. Staff Sergeant Woehl's intrepid actions, personal bravery and zealous devotion to duty at the cost of his life, exemplify the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself, the 40th Infantry Division, and the United States Army.

Headquarters, U.S. Forces-Pacific, General Orders No. 68 (1945)