Eric Fisher Wood, Jr.
First Lieutenant, U.S. Army

On 17 December 1944, then-First Lieutenant Eric Fisher Wood, Jr. was serving as Executive Officer of Battery A, 589th Field Artillery Battalion, 106th Infantry Division, U.S. Army.

From 17 December 1944 to 22 January 1945, 1LT Wood’s unit was in action against German forces near Schonberg, Belgium. 1LT Wood’s section, the rear element of the withdrawing battalion, was cut off and completely surrounded. In addition, his vehicle was destroyed by enemy tank fire, and German infantry covered the surrounding area with heavy small-arms fire. 1LT Wood refused to surrender and, as German fire converged on him from all sides, he raced across a large open field into the woods beyond. Although 1LT Wood was now far inside German territory in the Ardennes wilderness in the dead of winter, with no possibility of returning to his own lines, he rejected any temptation to surrender. In company with several other Americans in the area, 1LT Wood repeatedly initiated ambush attacks against enemy communications, supply columns, and patrols, resulting in the deaths of many Germans. 1LT Wood had continued his offensive action in a last fierce engagement with overwhelming German forces when he was killed in action. When 1LT Wood's body was found, it was surrounded by the bodies of 7 Germans. 1LT Wood’s courageous actions and extraordinary heroism earned him, at the cost of his life, the U.S. Army's second highest award for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross.

Medals and Awards

Distinguished Service Cross
Silver Star Medal
Bronze Star Medal
Purple Heart
American Campaign Medal
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with 2 Bronze Stars
World War II Victory Medal
Croix de Guerre with Palm (Belgium)

Distinguished Service Cross Citation

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 First Lieutenant (Field Artillery) Eric Fisher Wood, Jr. (ASN: 0-517724), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Executive Officer of Battery A, 589th Field Artillery Battalion, 106th Infantry Division, in action against enemy forces from 17 December 1944 to 22 January 1945, near Schonberg, Belgium. Lieutenant Wood's section, the rear element of the withdrawing battalion, was cut off and completely surrounded, his vehicle was destroyed by enemy tank fire, and hostile infantry covered the surrounding area with a hail of small-arms fire. Refusing to surrender, as enemy fire converged on him from all sides, he raced across a large open field into the woods beyond. Cut off from all possibility of returning to his own lines, far inside enemy territory in the Ardennes wilderness in the dead of winter, he rejected any temptation to surrender. Not content to maintain his liberty behind the enemy lines, on company with several other Americans in the area, he repeatedly initiated ambush attacks against enemy communications, supply columns, and patrols, accounting for the deaths of scores of the foe. Valiantly, Lieutenant Wood continued his offensive action until finally in a last fierce engagement with overwhelming forces he made the supreme sacrifice, where later his body was found surrounded by the bodies of seven of the enemy, mute testimony to the daring, the loyalty, and the intrepid gallantry of Lieutenant Wood in the service of his country. First Lieutenant Wood'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 106th Infantry Division, and the United States Army.

War Department, General Orders No. 14 (January 30, 1947)

Burial

First Lieutenant Eric Fisher Wood, Jr. is buried at the Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery and Memorial in Henri-Chapelle, Arrondissement de Verviers, Liège, Belgium, in Plot G, Row 3, Grave 46.