Cpl. Woodrow W. Sharp KIA, Italy 1945
PROTECTED CONTENT
If you’re a current subscriber, log in below. If you would like to subscribe, please click the subscribe tab above.
Username and Password Help
Please enter your email and we will send you a password reset link.
Cpl. Woodrow W. Sharp KIA, Italy 1945
Cpl. Woodrow W. Sharp KIA, Italy 1945
Woodrow W. Sharp was born November 12, 1913 in Van Leer, Johnson County, Ky. His parents were Calvin Archer and Frankie (Chitwood) Sharp. Woodrow had a grammar school education and was employed as a lumberman and craftsman prior to his joining the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC’s) on August 14, 1935 in Jamestown, Tennessee where he worked until his departure at New Tazewell, Tennessee on September 11, 1937. He married Wallen Loudin, the daughter of Cornelious Loudin on December 21, 1940 by Rev. Maynard Jeffers in Scott County, Tennessee. They had one daughter, Alice.
Before Woodrow joined the United States Army after the beginning of WWII. He joined on September 15, 1943 at Ft. Oglethorpe, Georgia. While serving in the war his wife Wallen was pregnant with his second daughter, Sonja (Sharp) Wright. Woodrow Sharp, departed Hampton Roads Port aboard HMS Andes on December 24, 1943, landed in Casablanca, North Africa on January 2, 1944 and received amphibious warfare training at Port aux Poules. Pvt, Woodrow Sharp was part of the 2nd Replacement Depot in Thaon, France until May 19, 1944 where he was assigned to Company C, 1st Division, 337th Infantry, 85th Division. The Regiment began a drive on Terracina on May 21 that on the 24th opened the road to the Anzio Beach Head. Over the next month, the Regiment fought through Monte Artemisio and Lariano. In June the 337th captured Monte Ceraso and advanced to the Viterbo River before being relieved on June 10, 1944. On June 18, 1944 he was awarded the Combat Infantryman’s Badge. The Regiment relieved the 2nd New Zealand Div. on the Arno River Line on August 16. On August 17 the 337th seized Mount Pratone. By September 18, the division had penetrated the Gothic Line. Pvt Sharp was wounded at this point and was sent to the 12th General Hospital and was reassigned to the 337th Infantry on October 16, 1944.
Cpl. Sharp’s Company “C” . On Oct. 24 engaged an attack on Messano through the night and Cpl. Sharp was listed as missing in action for about two weeks. On November 5th he was reassigned to Company “C” 337th Infantry. As the Regiment continued its active defense of the assigned sector with a continuous aggressive and coordinated patrol to maintain contact with the enemy to prevent enemy infiltration. The Germans held positions at Hill 431, Hill 444, ii Peggie and Messane, a Company “C” ambush patrol routed a 58 man patrol, killing and wounding many of them on November 6 and 7. These patrolling missions continued until November 12 when the Regiment was scheduled for rest and intensive training in the Gagliano area. On December 23, 1944 the Regiment was moved in to the Serchio Valley sector and were met with a massive assault that lasted for more than six days. By January the Regiment was moved to Lucca to assist the 92nd Division to repel the enemy attack in the Serchio Valley. On January 8th Company “C” relieved the 8th Battalion at Montecalderero where the assault was ongoing. On January 12, 1945 near C Di Chin, Cpl. Woodrow W. Sharp was seriously wounded and was evacuated to the 8th Evacuation Hospital.
On January 20, 1945 at the 8th Evacuation Hospital, in the vicinity of C Di Chin in the Northern Apennines, Italy Cpl. Woodrow W. Sharp died and was interred in the Mt. Benni Cemetery on January 21, 1945 and later moved to the Florence-American Cemetery in Italy, where his body remains today. Cpl Sharp was awarded the Combat lnfantrymans Badge, The Presidential Unit Citation and the Purple Heart with an Oak Leaf Cluster.
He is interred in the Florence-American Cemetery in Italy.
Article by David Jeffers